Trailblazing Entrepreneur and Civil Rights Leader Shane Harris Acquires the Historic “San Diego Monitor Newspaper” and Business Journal an Adjudicated Newspaper Founded in 1986 through S Harris Communications
For nearly four decades, the San Diego Monitor Newspaper and Business Journal has served as a trusted source of information, inspiration, and empowerment for underrepresented communities - amplifying stories that matter and voices too often left unheard. As an adjudicated newspaper in the State of California, the Monitor holds a special legal status granted by the courts that affirms its credibility, consistency, and service to the public. This designation authorizes it to publish official legal notices, setting it apart from most online or non-adjudicated outlets. Adjudication is a hallmark of journalistic legitimacy-signaling that the publication meets the rigorous standard of accuracy, transparency, and permanence required by law.
“My father built the San Diego Monitor to be more than a newspaper-he built it to be a voice for our community when few others were listening. I am deeply proud to see Shane Harris take up that mantle with integrity, vision, and heart. His leadership represents a continuation of my father’s legacy - one rooted in truth, empowerment, and service to the people. The Monitor’s future is in strong, capable hands, “ Cheryl Morrow said Tuesday after the purchase and transition was final.
Harris represents a new kind of publisher - one who fuses business acumen, civic leadership, and social consciousness into a media movement. Known nationally for his public advocacy, communications expertise, and innovative leadership, Harris brings a rare combination of entrepreneurship and purpose to the newsroom. Through S Harris Communications, Harris has built a platform that blends storytelling, strategy, and social impact. His vision extends beyond publishing - it is about shaping a media culture that serves truth and elevates community perspectives. “I’m not just stepping into a publisher’s role; I’m stepping into a movement,” said Shane Harris, President and CEO of S Harris Communications. “This moment calls for honest, fair, and balanced journalism - journalism that reflects the whole truth and empowers the people it serves. The Monitor will stand as a beacon for credible creative storytelling, accountability, and civic unity in a time when it is needed most.”
Under Harris’s leadership, the Monitor will undergo a strategic transformation- expanding its digital presence, enhancing investigative reporting, and strengthening its role as a trusted voice for San Diego and beyond. Harris will expand the paper from being a “Black paper” to being a city wide presence, including expanding coverage. The publication will feature expanded coverage of business, civic affairs, education, and social impact while embracing modern multimedia storytelling to engage a new generation of readers. In doing so, Harris aims to honor the legacy of Willie Morrow while positioning the Monitor as a forward looking model of community centered journalism.
