AUGUSTA, Ga. — Morris Communications is selling its 11 daily newspapers and other publications in those markets to New Media Investment Group, the parent company of GateHouse Media Inc.

New Media said Wednesday it purchased Morris Publishing Group, the newspaper division of Georgia-based Morris Communications, for $120 million. Newspapers in the sale include The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville), The St. Augustine (Florida) Record, The Savannah (Georgia) Morning News, The Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle, The Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald, the Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal, the Amarillo (Texas) Globe-News, the Topeka (Kansas) Capital-Journal, the Log Cabin Democrat (Conway, Arkansas), the Juneau (Alaska) Empire, the Peninsula Clarion (Kenai, Alaska), and the Homer (Alaska) News. I’m reassured that (Publisher) Deedie (McKenzie) will remain my boss and she’s been real supportive of what we’re doing.”

McKenzie, based in Kenai, will remain publisher of the Juneau Empire and Peninsula Clarion. GateHouse, which already owns five daily and more than a dozen weekly newspapers in Arkansas, last month closed its Little Rock bureau and laid off the only reporter who staffed it.
New York State-based GateHouse Media announces an agreement to buy 11 U.S. newspapers from Georgia-based Morris Communications. Included in the deal is the Log Cabin Democrat, founded in 1879, and three Alaskan newspapers: the Juneau Empire, the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News. The deal is expected to close on October 2.