Augusta, Ga. - J. Stanley Warren has been named director of the Eastern Publishing Group for the Morris newspaper division, effective immediately. The announcement was made today by Morris Communications President Will Morris.

Warren, a Georgia native, spent four years as president and CEO of the Alabama and South Georgia Strategic Marketing Groups for Thomson Newspapers Inc., in Dothan, Ala. and Valdosta, Ga.

In previous positions during his 23-year-career with the Thomson group, Warren has been publisher of the Bluefield (W.Va.) Daily Telegraph; The Daily Citizen-News, Dalton, Ga.; and The Americus (Ga.) Times-Recorder. He also was advertising manager for several Thomson-owned newspapers. Most recently he has been manager of a retail operation in Valdosta.

"Stanley has a wealth of experience in newspaper operational management that is especially germane to our strategy of newspaper publishing clusters," said Morris. "We're delighted to welcome him to the company."

As head of the Eastern Group, Warren will be responsible for 10 daily newspapers: The Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, Okla.; The Examiner, Blue Springs, Mo.; The Examiner, Independence, Mo.; Hannibal (Mo.) Courier-Post; Hillsdale (Mich.) Daily News; The Holland (Mich.) Sentinel; Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Ark.; The Oak Ridger, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; The Shawnee (Okla.) News-Star; and the News Chief, Winter Haven, Fla.; nine shoppers: Auburndale (Fla.) Shopper; Bartow (Fla.) Shopper; Flashes Shopping Guide, Allegan, Mich.; Lakeland (Fla.) Shopper; Lake Wales (Fla.) Shopper; Ridge Shopper, Haines City, Fla.; Tip-Off Shopping Guide, Jonesville, Mich.; Town & Country News, Oak Grove, Mo.; and Winter Haven Shopper; and two specialized publications: Senior Living, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and West Michigan Senior Times, Allegan, Mich.

Carl N. Cannon, Morris vice president for newspapers, as well as the company's Best Read Guide tourist publication division, has oversight responsibility for the Eastern Group.

In March of 2002, Morris divided the properties in its community newspaper division into two regional clusters known as the Eastern Group and the Western Group. Michael C. Traynor became director of the Western Group in April, 2002. James C. Currow, vice president for newspapers, oversees the Western Group.

Morris Communications is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, and computer services. For more information visit www.morris.com.