The Metropolitan Student Newspaper - Metropolitan State College of Denver - Analysis of Online vs. Print editions

I have examined the January 28, 2010 edition of Metropolitan State College of Denver's The Metropolitan newspaper, both the print edition and the online edition.  There are numerous differences between the two:

• There is very little resemblance between the two formats. 
  
• On the cover of the print edition, there is a rather compelling photograph of a young Haitian sitting on a grave and a inviting headline:  "Hope For Haiti".  Online, there are a series of pictures, all the same size with smaller headlines.  The Haiti lead does not stand out as being any more important as the others.
• A striking difference is links to the newspapers Twitter updates on the front page of the online edition.  I think it was a little over-done.  It left me with feeling like the point they were trying to make was, 'Wow look at us, we have a twitter account!'
• The online edition has tags to different subjects covered in its current edition.  Obviously, you are unable to link to anything in the print edition.
• The online edition has encouraged feedback on all of it's stories, with  use of a handy form for giving such at the bottom of each article. 
  
• I find the print edition to be laid out extremely well.  It is organized, easy to read and stylish.  The online edition, while having many cutting edge conversion media items, is sloppy and disorganized.  

     I think the online version of this paper is putting form in front of content.  In other words, too much emphasis has been put on use of newer tools of mass media and the layout has suffered because of it.  Fine tuning the layout and ease of access would make it a fantastic enhancement to the print edition.  It's definitely not there yet!