Julio Ojeda-Zapata writes that the Pioneer Press "will soon offer an e-edition of the paper that looks just like the dead-tree version."

The e-edition will be available at a special introductory subscription rate, with seven-day delivery over 26 weeks for $26.65, or 52 weeks for $53.30.

This is interesting for a number of reasons. They're going to start charing for what's already free on their website but in a digital format that only makes sense on paper. Presumably, you'll now be able to pay a premium to have a format that less searchable, doesn't get corrected or updated the same way a normal paper doesn't and ultimately cannot be linked to or aggregated. You'll have news in a format that's probably just as isolated and contained as the paper version.

I've never perused such an e-paper (there are others) but I'm told it's designed for easy navigation from page to page and section to section. A 30-day search and easy-on-the-eyes features are part of the deal -- which isn't free (sorry).

Well, we'll see. You can do a search on the website the way it is now. And why don't they implement the easy-on-the-eyes features on twincities.com? I may not understand their strategy, but my guess is that they're aiming at a market of people that want the paper version of the Pioneer Press that aren't comfortable with using the twincities.com website to get their news. If that's the case, this is not the right solution to the problem, IMHO. Perhaps I'm living in a bubble but I can't think of anyone that would want to pay for this. Update 01 Oct 07: Julio Ojeda-Zapata updated his post responding to Garrick Van Buren and I

MinnPost.com will offer exclusive front-page news stories as well as “posts," a new format in which professional journalists engage in an informal conversation with readers about what they're learning and what to make of it. Posts will be a bit like blogs, but unlike many blogs, they will be built around original reporting – not just opinions or links to other people’s work. MinnPost.com, which will publish Monday through Friday, also will offer daily roundups providing perspective on metro, state, national and international news, stories from selected content partners (currently under discussion), commentary from community leaders and experts, and comment from and involvement of readers.

--Joel Kramer's Announcement this morning as relayed by Brian Lambert. (Now on minnpost.com/news) I'm not excited. I don't see yet how this is going to be all that different than startribune.com or twincities.com. It quacks like a newspaper "gone online but a little different." What would separate this from MPR ramping up their local news site, hiring a few of these journalists and throwing in a little of their "new media initiative" magic fairy dust for a little citizen-involvement twist?