2007-06-28

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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

eScrip a good thing for schools



Words cannot express the appreciation that Brookside Elementary School and PTA have for the contributions that Vons/ Pavilions/Safeway have made to our school through the eScrip fundraising program. Our PTA fundraising efforts, of which eScrip is a very important component, helped to provide much-needed financial support to our school for things such as computers, PE teachers, new playground equipment, classroom […]

How to fight crime the right way



I find the city of Agoura Hills’ agreeing to fund an additional sheriff’s vehicle somewhat puzzling and a touch humorous. I mean, I certainly can understand the move if this was a high or even moderate crime area filled with chases and felonies and gangs, oh my. Yet, last week’s Sheriff’s Blotter for Agoura Hills listed eight crimes involving theft […]

Are locals paying a gas premium?



Why are local residents of Agoura, Westlake Village and Calabasas paying more for gas than residents of all surrounding communities? On June 18 we checked gasoline prices in the aforementioned cities and found them to be 25 to 30 cents per gallon higher than those found in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, West Hills, Woodland Hills and Canoga Park. For example, […]

Bleacher hogs spoiled grad day



I wanted to write you and tell you how proud I was of my son on his graduating day at Agoura High School on Fri., June 15. The only thing that ruined one of the biggest days in my life was the way the seating was handled. After waiting in line for over one hour in the blazing heat we […]

‘We the people’ own the airwaves



Enough is enough. It’s time to take back our country and our democracy. We need to start by re-regulating the media. The truth is not being told openly and honestly by the huge multinationals who control our networks. Two stolen elections, an invasion based on lies, laws that create enormous corporate wealth at the expense of the individual, the dismantling […]

Scared



My son is almost 4 years old. He’s gone almost all four years of his life without really being scared of anything. As a toddler, he used to climb over the couch onto a bordering saucer toy and then onto a nearby table- something like you might see in a dangerous high-wire-type circus act- without any fear at all. My […]

“Evan Almighty”



Directed by: Tom Shadyac Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, Wanda Sykes and John Goodman MPAA rating: PG (mostly, I believe, for bird poop) Running time: 90 minutes Best suited for: Families. (Frankly, even 6- and 7-year-olds should have fun with this one) Least suited for: the GodandHollywood-don’t-mix crowd I sit here, the clock ticking, staring into an angry […]

Illegal parking needs to be stopped



If you’ve ever wondered about the purpose of those blue, diagonally-striped areas adjacent to, or in between handicap parking spaces, they are there for a reason. The aisles were required as part of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act so that drivers and passengers with disabilities can enter and exit their vehicles. Two handicap parking spaces can share a common […]

Cartoon



Centrally Located In Thousand Oaks



This singlestory, 2bedroom, 1.25-bath home has more than 900 square feet and is on a corner, lower level near schools, parks and shopping. This is a great starter home for a young family or a pair of singles. It would also be perfect for retirees downsizing or as an investment property. The low HOA dues provide for a community pool, […]