One of the oldest and most respected diocesan newspapers in America just took a big leap into the 21st century, becoming the first to publish an electronic edition for Kindle:

Beginning with its Aug. 6 edition, The Pilot will be available on Amazon Kindle and through its new Apple iPhone application. The Pilot also plans to unveil a mobile optimized version of its web site for BlackBerry and Android smart phones as well as an Apple iPad-specific application later this month.

“I have always felt that it is important for the Church to bring its message to people wherever they get their information,” said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley. “Today, particularly among young people, that is increasingly on mobile devices. As a Kindle user myself, I look forward to having The Pilot delivered there every week.”

Though other Catholic commentators and news outlets have blog content available through Kindle, The Pilot is the first Catholic newspaper to publish an “e-edition” on the electronic reader.

“We are trying to enter in all these avenues of distribution, because that is where the people are,” said Pilot editor Antonio Enrique.

The Pilot is available on Kindle for $1.49 per month. Single issues can be purchased for $0.75.

The Kindle edition will be a digital version of the weekly newspaper, with content drawn from the printed edition including local, national and international Catholic news as well as the calendar of local Catholic events and opinion pieces. However, like most newspapers available through Kindle it will not include advertisements, special features and some graphics and photos.

The iPhone and iPad applications will be based more on The Pilot’s website and be updated daily, Enrique said. The upcoming Blackberry and Android formats will be news-oriented, according to Enrique.

“Readers are cross-platform,” he said. “You can’t expect readers to follow you on just one device or medium.”

You can read more at the Pilot link.