Newspapers to Reduce Employee Pay 5-10 Percent

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Morris Communications Co has told its employees it will reduce wages 5 to 10 percent, effective April 1. The reductions will affect both hourly and salaried employees.

The chairman of the company, William S. Morris III, said Wednesday the move was painful for the Morris family, but it had done everything it could to put it off.

Morris says the pay cuts are the least painful way to preserve the greatest number of jobs.

Morris Communications, based in Augusta, has diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services.

Morris Publishing Group was formed in 2001 and publishes 13 daily newspapers, including The Florida Times-Union, The Augusta Chronicle, the Savannah Morning News and the Athens Banner-Herald.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)