2004-02-05

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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

UCLA seeks women for cancer research



Healthy women are being sought by researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center for a study that seeks to shed light on why many breast cancer survivors suffer from fatigue. Researchers are seeking women ages 25 to 70 for the study. "Many cancer survivors are fatigued after treatment. It could be the treatment causing that fatigue or it could be other […]

Recognizing symptoms can speed treatment, recovery from rare disorder



If you began to experience burning or tingling in your hands and feet and a decreased ability to sweat when overly hot, would you think of the rare genetic illness known as Fabry disease? Would your doctor? Unfortunately, because Fabry disease is so rare, it’s easily missed. According to the National Kidney Foundation, patients are often initially misdiagnosed, their symptoms […]

Support offered for Parkinson’s



A new support group formed by the American Parkinson Disease Association meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month at the Astoria Senior Residence, 4520 Willens Ave., Woodland Hills. Recognizing the devastating effects of this illness on the victim, his caregivers and family, the support group tries to motivate patients and their caregivers in maximizing strengths, […]

Don’t get burned: Shriners promote awareness to keep kids from injury



This is Burn Awareness Week and the Shriners—members of the fraternal organization that operates 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout North America—want people to take the necessary steps to prevent flammable liquid and gasoline-related burns. "The greatest tragedy is that most burn injuries are preventable," said M. Burton Oien, president and CEO of the Shriners of North America. "Every year […]

Voters forum scheduled



The Cal State University Northridge (CSUN) student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has invited the public to join representatives from the League of Women Voters, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Department and a Northridge political science professor in a voters’ information forum. The nonpartisan discussion from noon to 4 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 9 at the […]

Valentine’s Day should be sweet



Not only is chocolate one of the oldest and most popular aphrodisiacs, but many fruits are also believed to enhance one’s amorous feelings and passions. This combination of aphrodisiacs is thought to have the power to produce physiological reactions that mirror those of being in love. Each year, millions of pieces of chocolates are exchanged between valentines. The stimulating and […]

Remember her with roses



Roses have symbolized love, friendship and beauty across cultures throughout time. It wasn’t until the 1940s, however, that roses became so closely associated with Valentine’s Day. Today, roses are the most requested flowers to send for this special holiday. More than 100 million roses in more than a thousand different varieties are sold each year on Valentine’s Day. Whether one’s […]

Topic: Non-toxic approaches to killing insects, weeds



Topic: Non-toxic approaches to killing insects, weeds James Nichols of Thousand Oaks will lead a discussion on "The Secret Non-Toxic Formula to Growing Plants" from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wed., Feb. 25 at Soka University, 26800 W. Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. For more than 20 years Nichols has studied creating a successful environmentally friendly agricultural industry without chemicals. He has written […]

Oak Park MAC recommends yes vote on parcel tax



By Billie Owens Acorn Staff Writer A parcel tax to help Oak Park schools facing state budget cuts received unanimous support last week from the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), the community’s governing body. The tax would be $197 per parcel for five years if approved by two-thirds of the voters on March 2. It would raise about $950,000 […]

Heart-of-the-Park shuttle operator selected



An operator for the Heart-of-the-Park Shuttle was recently selected by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the National Park Service. The shuttle consists of a partnership to link several popular county, state and national park sites with a public transportation system. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) selected MV Transportation of Fairfield, Calif. to receive the shuttle operations contract. The […]