2006-05-04

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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

an Dyke sings for schools



For the fifth year, comedian Dick Van Dyke will star in a benefit concert for local high school choral programs at 4 p.m. Sun., May 14 at the Fred Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks. The show, “An Afternoon with Rogers and Hammerstein,” will feature Van Dyke singing songs from such musicals as “South Pacific,” […]

Play examines faith issues



Elite Theatre Company is presenting “Agnes of God” through May 21 at Petit Playhouse, 730 S. “B” St., Ste. 20, Oxnard, in Heritage Square. Play times and tickets, ranging from $15 to $17, are available by calling the box office at (805) 483-5118. Court-appointed psychiatrist Dr. Martha Livingstone must gauge the sanity of a novice nun accused of murdering her […]

CLU concert will feature film scores



The California Lutheran University Symphony will present a concert featuring the film scores of Academy Award-winning music legend Alfred Newman at 8 p.m. Sat., May 6 in Samuelson Chapel on the CLU campus at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. CLU junior music major Jaclyn Newman of Malibu will narrate a program that will feature several of her grandfather’s film […]

Viewpoint students sing Sondheim



Martial artists to display skills at Civic Arts Plaza



The Ventura County Chapter of Masters and Martial Artists will host the 2006 Martial Arts Super Fest and Stunt Show from 2 to 5 p.m. Sat., May 6 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. Performances of katas, stunts, weapons, board and brick breaking, as well as comedy and extreme martial art […]

Says bicyclists are hogging the road



The arrogance of some bicyclists is absolutely astounding. They demand “equal rights” to the roads, but, for them, it is a oneway street. They think that none of the highway rules apply to them. I actually had one bicyclist run a red light and hold up his hand for me to stop even though I had the green. Their idea […]

Agoura Hills isn’t helping



I read the article in last week’s Acorn on the Las Virgenes Education Foundation. It’s great that the foundation helps the schools. In the article, school board member Dave Moorman says the school district, unlike other districts, is not eligible for certain grants and funding and that the district requires additional funding from outside sources. Why haven’t the board members […]

School bond assessment is criticized



There is no question that the Oak Park Unified School District needs additional funds. A bond issue that will improve the quality of the schools, and therefore property values, should be assessed based on a formula that is fair to all property owners. The structure of the currently proposed B6 and C6 bond assessments is not fair. Due to the […]

Roberto Del Frate



Seniors who need advice about their homes and rental properties can turn to Roberto Del Frate, a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Westlake Village. Roberto recently was awarded the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) professional designation by the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council in Murphys, Calif. SRES help seniors make wise decisions about selling the family home, buying rental property, […]

Joanne Nelson



Joanne Nelson, an award-winning agent with Prudential California Realty, was recently honored at the company’s annual awards banquet held on Feb. 24. As she received the Gibraltar Circle award, she joined the Top 20 in the company for 2005. She also accepted the Chairman’s Circle Gold that morning, which recognized her outstanding production achievement for last year. In addition to […]