The Mt. Whitney High School newspaper will move exclusively onto the Internet beginning next year, as the paper looks to save money and time as well as present a realistic portrayal of the future of journalism for its students, the Visalia Times-Delta reported on Tuesday.

The Pioneer is published six times a year and according to advisor Carol Clarke, it costs the newspaper club $380 to print 1,400 to 1,500 copies of the eight page paper, each edition.

Money used to fund the newspaper and the club is found from fund-raising, which has left the students with less opportunity for learning and production.

"Last year we had to raise $2,000," she said. "That's a whole bunch of fundraising. That's a whole bunch of enchiladas."

With the online switch Clarke hopes that the extra money can go towards opportunities for the students such as student-journalism conventions.

Clarke said she take on the role of Webmaster at the Mt. Whitney site.

The school's principal, Jeff Hohne expressed concern over the solely online existence.

"I just worry about anything that goes online," he said. "I trust [Clarke], but I worry about stuff online. Once it's out there, it's out there."

However, because the newspaper is a club school administration cannot prohibit the papers move to the Internet.

Hohne and Clarke did agree to postpone the online launch until January 2010, during which time the school will fund the printing of the newspaper.

Clarke said she understands the principal's concerns but believes the change is important.

"They have to look at the potential conflicts and have a broader view," she said.

Clarke was also eager to see the newspaper receive more school recognition, including a portion of the high schools grant money and have student participation in the paper include academic grades.

"Let's have a journalism credit-recovery class," she said. "I would have more of a captive audience of people who I would be able to teach."

She believes the online newspaper will attract more student input and a larger audience.

"This is what kids need to be trained in, because this is the future," she said. "We've got to go where they are and find out what they want to learn."