AUGUSTA, Ga. - Morris Communications Corp. has purchased Star Publishing Company Inc., Eagle River, Alaska. The company has been owned since its inception in 1971 by Editor Lee Jordan and members of his family.

The Alaska Star is the company's weekly newspaper, with a circulation of approximately 5,000 in the Anchorage, Eagle River and Mat-Su Valley areas. Eagle River is about 15 miles northeast of Anchorage.

"The Star will extend our news presence in an area now served by our six Anchorage radio stations," said Susie Morris Baker, Morris' vice president for Alaska newspapers. "It's also a good complement to The Alaska Journal of Commerce, our statewide business weekly in Anchorage."

Other Alaska newspapers owned by Morris are the Peninsula Clarion, Kenai, the Juneau Empire, the Homer News and Alaska Military Weekly, Anchorage. The company also owns Alaska magazine, Alaskan Equipment Trader and three travel guides, The Milepost, Best Read Guide/Anchorage and Destination Alaska.

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 additional information, see www.morris.com.