2002-04-11

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Acorn online content now offered free

'Paywall' removed

The new millennium has been a transformative time for newspaper publishing.

Changing reader habits and the advent of new technology have placed big demands on companies in the print news business.

The Acorn and its parent company, Times Media Group, understand that their biggest responsibility is not only the delivery of credible, relevant information in a timely fashion, but making sure residents have easy access to the publication when stories become available.

That’s why we’re super excited about the news being shared today.

Following a five-year stretch in which Acorn readers were given the option of purchasing online subscriptions to the paper, that so-called “paywall” is coming down.

“Mr. Publisher, tear down this wall,” the late President Ronald Reagan might have once said.

And so we did.

Starting immediately, all online content from our five Acorn publications will be available at no charge to the reader, meaning a paid subscription is no longer required to click and read articles. The weekly Acorn has always been delivered to your driveway at no cost—that more than 40-year tradition will continue—and from now on The Acorn on the internet will be free as well.

Why the change?

The Acorn is your community newspaper, and we want to make sure it stays that way. We believe it’s important that residents feel a connection to the stories we write and also learn about the businesses that advertise in their community. The absence of a paywall is the best way to ensure this free-flow of information remains.

We also invite readers to sign up for the new, easy-to-read Acorn newspaper e-edition delivered weekly to your e-mail. Viewed on mobile, desktop or laptop, the pages are super easy to navigate and, free, just like the print paper.

Local journalism is first gear in the engine that drives America’s free press, and a free press it shall be.

Archives

Easy rider



Ahmanson Ranch foes say they will target Washington Mutual throughout California, up, down West Coast

Acorn Staff Writer

Washington Mutual opponent and actor-director Rob Reiner helped launch the second phase of the Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch campaign last Saturday morning at the Washington Mutual Bank on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Several dozens of people gathered in front of the bank with picket signs to catch the attention of Washington Mutual customers. Many signs listed other Washington […]

Parent, teen group enjoys some success in fighting dysfunction

Acorn Staff Writer

Dysfunctional families like those from TV and movies including the "Osborne’s" and Kevin Spacey’s family in "American Beauty" have been entertaining for many Americans to watch. But for those struggling through turmoil, it’s not amusing at all. In 1989, a unique support group took action to reach troubled teens and families in crisis. The group has been providing a free […]

Malibu coastal plan stretches inland, strikes a nerve

Acorn Staff Writer

Residents of rural Agoura, Calabasas and Malibu are upset over the California Coastal Commission’s new Malibu Land Use Plan (LUP) and will meet this Saturday to voice their opposition. If the state-mandated plan goes into effect Sept. 15 as scheduled, the mountain areas north of the city will be severely limited in the number of recreation and equestrian activities they […]

CHS traffic to be investigated

Acorn Staff Writer

After listening to public feedback last week regarding traffic control on Old Topanga Road at Bluebird Street, the Calabasas City Council gave city traffic engineers a list of items to investigate. The answers will return to the council for further review. Opinions varied during the council meeting. Four-way stop signs were installed on Topanga Canyon Road at Bluebird Street about […]

Daycare center abruptly closes

Acorn Staff Writer

Many local area parents and Thousand Oaks Tutor Time employees were upset after showing up to the Lindero Canyon and Kanan Road Tutor Time childcare learning center on Mon., April 1and finding the doors locked and the facility empty. Staff members were left unemployed without notice and parents had no place to take their children, ages 1 to 5, to […]

Brighter days ahead for children in the dark world of autism

Acorn Staff Writer

As if raising a child isn’t hard enough, imagine that yours has autism. The child you love will be distant and defiant, have trouble learning to talk, or behave in a manner that seems socially awkward and out of place. About half of the children with autism never speak at all and most need full time care. They might love […]

Autism facts



First described by a Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943, autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities among young people today. The condition is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. There are […]

Careers growing in parks department



Thanks to an innovative public partnership, a growing number of young people are experiencing the rewards of service as members of the Public Land Corps. At the same time, national parks have never looked better. Created by an Act of Congress in 1996, the partnership authorized the federal land managing agencies—National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of […]

Oak Park grad goes to Washington



Christian Chivaroli, a 1998 graduate of Oak Park High School, recently served as an intern for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C. Working in the office of U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the committee’s ranking Republican, Chivaroli wrote memoranda, participated in Congressional staff briefings, assisted during hearings and worked in the area of press relations. Chivaroli, 21, […]