Morris Digital Works™' Michael Romaner Wins 'Online Innovator' Award;
'Best News Site' Honors Go To Savannah and Jacksonville;
Savannah Wins for Online Classified Advertising;
Augusta Wins For Online Advertising

AUGUSTA, Ga. - One Morris division president, three newspaper Web sites and one Internet classified product claimed top honors in the areas of innovation, news and advertising when the Newspaper Association of America's New Media Federation presented the 2004 Digital Edge Awards, or "Edgies," in San Diego, Calif., Jan. 18-20.

Morris Digital Works™ President Michael Romaner received the prestigious "Online Innovator" award; Morris Publishing Group Web sites Savannahnow.com and Jacksonville.com took overall honors in their respective circulation categories; and AugustaChronicle.com and Savannah took top honors in online advertising categories.

In presenting this year's "Online Innovator Award," NAA Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer John E. Kimball praised Romaner as a "true visionary" with the talent and expertise to turn visions into reality, while impacting the newspaper industry as a whole.

"Perhaps more than any other electronic media executive, Michael has committed his energy and insights to industry-wide initiatives that help everyone better understand and act on emerging business opportunities," Kimball said.

Romaner said he shares the award with everyone on the Morris Digital Works™ team.

"I couldn't be more proud of our entire company," Romaner said. "The work and commitment that happens at every level of this company is an extraordinary gift. Nothing could be more fun than playing the Internet game at Morris Communications."

Romaner's ability and persistence have made him a role model at Morris Communications and an industry trailblazer, said William S. Morris IV, president of Morris Communications and president and CEO of Morris Publishing Group, the company's newspaper subsidiary.

"Michael is blessed with a rare combination of talent, energy and personal charisma which makes him a tireless innovator and a compelling leader," Morris said. "We're extremely proud of his contributions to our company and to the industry."

Savannahnow.com, of the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News, was awarded "Best Overall News Site" in the circulation category of less than 75,000; The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union's Jacksonville.com won for "Best Overall News Site" for the circulation category 75,000 to 250,000. Savannah also won "Best Classified Application" for their Coastal Autos product in the less than 75,000-circulation category. The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle's AugustaChronicle.com claimed top honors for "Best Advertising Program, Circulation less than 75,000" for its Augusta Airport online "pre-mercial."

"We're also thrilled that Savannah and Jacksonville won two of the top three awards, that Savannah was also cited for excellence in online classified advertising and that Augusta won in the online advertising category," Morris added. "Every member of our online teams across the country has directly or indirectly contributed to these honors, and I congratulate them all."

Morris Digital Works™ is the online and multimedia development arm of Morris Communications Company LLC, a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, and online services.

Morris Publishing Group was formed in 2001 and assumed the operations of the newspaper business segment of its parent, Morris Communications Co. Morris Publishing Group publishes 26 daily, 11 nondaily and 23 free community newspapers in the United States.