2005-03-02

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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

Way to go, guys



Musical variety show offers family fun



A musical variety show tailored for families featuring "Razzle-Bam-Boom," the duo of Mark Beckwith and Obediah Thomas, will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Fri., March 11 in the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Beckwith and Thomas combine humor, juggling, vocals, guitar, trumpet and percussion plus audience participation to craft a […]

Break time



Mystery writer to host meeting



Mystery writer Patricia Smiley, author of "False Profits," will be the featured speaker of the Ventura County Writers Club meeting at 7 p.m. Tues., March 8 at Borders Books, 125 Thousand Oaks Blvd. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Karen Gorback at (805) 496-6204. The club is sponsoring a poetry contest open […]

Youth theater seeks talent



Curtain Call Youth Theater is announcing an open call for young actors ages 12 through 19 for its Spring Intensive Musical Theater class, beginning in March from noon to 2 p.m. on Sundays at Got Rhythm Dance Studio, 749 Lakefield Road, Westlake Village. Call director Jeff Wallach at (818) 704-1221 for start date and to reserve a class spot. For […]

Tweens program urges youth to get more exercise



A federal program teaching America’s children about the benefits of physical activity is showing surprisingly good results. The VERB program, run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, targets "tweens" (children ages 9 to 13). The program speaks to tweens in a variety of "cool" ways: through a multi-media campaign of television advertisements and Web-based contests, through partnerships with […]

Lawyer to present series on advocacy for special needs kids



PAUSE4kids will host a Special Education Advocacy Series in April. The course is intended for attorneys, parents, therapists, teachers, advocates and anyone who wants to help a child with special needs. Presenter for the series will be Rene Folse, JD, PhD, an attorney and licensed psychologist. Her presentation is approved for continuing education credits for attorneys. The series will be […]

Concert slated for St. Max



Concert slated for St. Max Soprano Winter Watson and composer Frederick Mabalot will be the featured artists at the "Songs from the New Age" concert at 8 p.m. Sat., March 5 in the sanctuary at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the parish fund as well as to […]

Cardinal presides at Mass to celebrate marriage



Cardinal presides at Mass to celebrate marriage Cardinal Roger Mahony presided at a special Mass for couples celebrating 25, 50 or more years of marriage during 2005 on World Marriage Day, observed on Sun., Feb. 27 at a 3:30 p.m. service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. Hundreds of anniversary couples […]

Funding a new position