Morris Publishing 8-K 2005 Fourth-quarter and Year-end Results

Exhibit 99.1

MORRIS PUBLISHING ANNOUNCES

2005 FOURTH-QUARTER AND YEAR-END RESULTS

AUGUSTA, Ga. (March 22, 2006) — Morris Publishing Group, LLC today reported fourth-quarter operating income of $27.5 million, up $3.7 million, or 15.4%, from $23.8 million for the same period in 2004. Net income for the quarter was $10.7 million, up $1.2 million from $9.5 million in the same period last year.

Total operating revenue for the fourth quarter was $121.0 million, up 0.9% from $119.9 million in the same quarter 2004, with total advertising revenue of $99.5 million, up 1.6%, and circulation revenue of $17.5 million, flat with the same quarter last year. Classified revenue was up 8.3%, while national and retail advertising revenues were down 8.2% and 1.3%, respectively.

For the fourth quarter, total operating cost was $93.5 million, down $2.6 million from $96.1 million last year, with labor and employee benefits cost of $42.7 million, down 4.0%, newsprint, ink and supplement cost of $13.5 million, down 3.0%, and other operating cost of $31.8 million, down 1.0% from the same quarter last year. Depreciation and amortization expense was $5.5 million, down 0.7% from the same period last year. The 2.7% decrease in total operating cost was primarily due to better than anticipated experience in healthcare costs and reduced newsprint consumption.

Commenting on the results, William S. Morris IV, Morris Publishing Group’s chief executive officer and president, said, “Despite the pressure from a soft advertising market, the increases in the price of newsprint and the start up of new publications, we were able to increase our operating income for the quarter and the year. We are especially pleased that we were able to aggressively manage our costs this past year.”

For the year, total operating revenue was $465.1 million, up 2.1% from $455.7 million in 2004. Total advertising revenue for the year was $378.3 million, up 2.9%, while circulation revenue was $70.6 million, up 0.6%.

Total operating cost for 2005 was $382.4 million, up 2.2% from $374.2 million in 2004, with labor and employee benefits cost of $176.8 million, down 0.6%, newsprint, ink and supplement cost of $55.9 million, up 3.9%, and other operating cost of $127.7 million, up 5.2%. Depreciation and amortization expense was $22.0 million, up 4.1% from last year.

Operating income for 2005 was $82.7 million, up 1.4% from $81.5 million last year. Net income was $31.3 million, up $1.0 million from $30.3 last year.

Morris Publishing Group, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morris Communications Company, LLC, a privately held media company based in Augusta, Ga. Morris Publishing owns and operates 27 daily and 12 nondaily newspapers, five city magazines and numerous other free community publications in the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Alaska. For more information, visitwww.morris.com.

A conference call will be held Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. In order to participate, please call 1-888-390-2955 ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled start. The pass code and leader’s name listed below will be required to join the conference call:

LEADER:	MR. STEVE STONE
PASS CODE:	MORRIS PUBLI

To access the Audio Replay of this call, all parties can:

1. Go to the URL:https://e-meetings.mci.com

2. Choose Audio Streaming under Join Events

3. Enter the conference number and pass code.

PASS CODE:	MORRIS PUBLI
CONFERENCE NUMBER:	7349861

Replays of the conference call are available for 30 days after the live event at the URL link.

For further information, please contact:

Craig S. Mitchell

Senior Vice President of Finance

Morris Communications Company, LLC

706-823-3236

Fourth-quarter and year-to-date results follow:

Morris Publishing Group, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands)	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31
	2005			2004			2005			2004
OPERATING REVENUES:
Advertising	$	99,524		$	97,951		$	378,338		$	367,560
Circulation		17,541			17,547			70,615			70,197
Other		3,942			4,408			16,154			17,977
Total net operating revenue		121,007			119,907			465,107			455,734
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Labor and employee benefits		42,722			44,520			176,832			177,905
Newsprint, ink and supplements		13,546			13,960			55,932			53,848
Other operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization)		31,816			32,131			127,688			121,353
Depreciation and amortization		5,461			5,497			21,965			21,097
Total operating expenses		93,545			96,108			382,417			374,203
Operating income		27,462			23,799			82,690			81,531
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):
Interest expense, including amortization of debt issuance costs		9,205			8,295			35,662			32,281
Loss on extinguishment of debt		986			—			986			—
Interest income		(72	)		(285	)		(120	)		(1,249	)
Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets		525			(243	)		(4,810	)		(181	)
Other, net		(113	)		300			(94	)		678
Total other expense		10,531			8,067			31,624			31,529
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		16,931			15,732			51,066			50,002
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES		6,262			6,192			19,776			19,694
NET INCOME	$	10,669		$	9,540		$	31,290		$	30,308