By John Howell Sr. and Myra Bean

With this issue, The Panolian offers its entire edition online in portable document format (PDF) as well as in print.

Mike Floyd of Collierville, Tenn. became the first customer to snap up the new service, apparently reading about it – where else? – on the panolian.com home page.

Floyd purchased an online-only subscription via PayPal Thursday morning. The new option costs an additional $5 with print subscription renewals. Only out of state subscribers may purchase online-only subscriptions for $27 annually.

The increased Internet offering reflects a further adaptation to electronic reading habits and has been in the works for the past month, managing editor Rupert Howell said.

“We anticipate a positive response from our readers who like to access the articles from The Panolian online,” Howell said.

Surveys sponsored by the National Newspaper Association starting in 2005, and updated annually continue to reflect strong readership, for well-managed local newspapers, Howell said. “We just want to make sure our readers have access however they want it,” he added.

Readers can enjoy a free trial from now until the April 2 edition. Starting April 2, a subscription will be required for complete online access.

To see how it works, visit panolian.com and check the “Online Edition” link. 

The online edition will be uploaded to the Internet by mid-morning each Tuesday and Friday. To subscribe, click on the “Subscribe” link further down the page.

For in-state subscribers, subscriptions to the complete online edition will be offered with their print subscriptions for about $5 more. Out-of-state subscribers have a choice of print and online for $60 annually or online only for $27.

Payments can be made online through Paypal. Payments in person can be made at The Panolian office, 363 Highway 51 North or by mail, P. O. Box 1616, Batesville, MS 38606.

Changes in The Panolian homepage will also be apparent with today’s edition.

Most major stories will continue to be posted separately and offered for free as they have been in the past.

Readers may continue to comment under the separately posted stories. Online comments about stories only on the PDF pages may be posted on a “Public Comments” link.

“We averaged 1,900 ‘unique visits’ and 7,000 page views per day online last week, so we’ve amassed a strong Internet following among readers,” Howell said. A unique visit is the record of one computer visiting The Panolian’s web site during a 24 hour period.

“We appreciate the extra work and thought that The Panolian staff members have put into this project,” Howell continued. “They understand that readers want their local news, and they want to make it easily available in print and online.”