Augusta, Ga. - Michael C. Traynor has been promoted to director for the Western Publishing Group, a newly formed regional cluster of Morris community newspapers and shoppers. The announcement was made today by Morris Communications President Will Morris.

Traynor has been general manager of the Savannah Morning News since 1998. Prior to that, he was production director for seven years and assistant production director for two years in Savannah.

Traynor became a Morris management intern in 1986, following his graduation from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and a major in publications management. He then served a production internship at the Athens Banner-Herald and subsequently was hired as a mechanical trainee in the production department of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

"Mike Traynor is a Morris success story," said President Morris. "We have been extremely pleased to watch his professional growth from his days as an intern, through every aspect of newspaper operations, to this level of responsibility for our company."

Newspapers in the Western Group include the following: dailies: The Brainerd (Minn.) Daily Dispatch; Dodge City (Kan.) Daily Globe; The Grand Island (Neb.) Independent; The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, Kan.; The Newton (Kan.) Kansan; Yankton (S.D.) Daily Press & Dakotan; York (Neb.) News-Times; nondailies: Lake Country Echo, Pequot Lakes, Minn.; Pine River (Minn.) Journal; Vermillion (S.D.) Plain Talk; shoppers: The Broadcaster, Vermillion, S.D.; Echoland Shopper, Pequot Lakes, Minn.; Mid Nebraska Connections, Grand Island; Missouri Valley Shopper, Yankton, S.D.; Piper Shopper, Pine River, Minn.; The Shopper's Weekly, Dodge City, Kan.; Trade & Transactions, York, Neb.

Traynor will be based at the home office in Augusta, where he will report to James C. Currow, vice president for Morris metro newspapers, with executive oversight responsibility for 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 see the company's Web site at www.morris.com.