2008-10-16

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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

Calabasas High a cappella group releases first CD



After more than seven years in the making, the Calabasas High School a cappella singing group Unstrumental has released its first CD recording, “Long Time Coming.” Also featured on the CD are three bonus tracks by CHS female a cappella group, Bare Rhythm. The CD has 16 tracks of songs of the singers covering songs first performed by The Beatles, […]

Philharmonic to host Italian Gala



The Thousand Oaks Philharmonic-Friends of the Phil will host an Italian dinner gala Thurs., Nov. 13 at Alessio Ristorante in the Paseo Market Place, 3731 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m. with dinner and performances at 6 p.m. The concert will feature the orchestra’s new conductor Richard Rintoul and five soloists. The event will […]

Improv company auditions



Ventura Improv Company will hold auditions at 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 22 and at 10:30 a.m. Sat., Oct. 25 at the theater, 34 N. Main St., Ventura. Players must be available for workshops on Thursday evenings. Auditions will take approximately two hours. Participants should wear comfortable clothing. To reserve an audition date, call Judy at (805) 901-4001 or e-mail vic@venturaimprov.com.

Film addresses Middle East



A screening of Just Vision’s feature documentary film “Encounter Point” will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 23 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. A moderated talk back session with refreshments will follow the film. The movie is described as “a true story about everyday heroes who refuse to sit back as […]

Organ concert



The Ventura County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists No. 930 will host a free organ concert at 3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 19 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. The program will include classics to jazz. For more information, call Jennifer Zobelein at (805) 612-6913, or visit www.agohq.org.

Prop. 8 promotes intolerance



This Nov. 4, I am very hopeful Californians will do the right thing in voting no on Proposition 8. As a young voter, I grew up believing everyone is entitled to the same rights, freedoms, and liberties. However, if Proposition 8 is passed, it will be written into our Californian Constitution that gay and lesbian couples will be denied the […]

Prop. 8 is an infringement on freedoms



The ads on television in support of Proposition 8 imply that religious gay marriage puts freedom at risk. Yes, Proposition 8 does indeed involve religious freedom. But the ads have it backwards. Proposition 8 is an attempt to put religious dogma into the California state constitution, dogma not universally shared by all faiths. There are indeed longestablished religions that support […]

Cashing in your right to vote



The editor who wrote the Opinion article on Oct. 9, titled “Ballots are the currency of a democracy” is right. There’s no excuse for any citizen to remain on the sidelines. You must register. You must vote. At the same time, with all due respect to this writer, saying that ballots are the currency of a democracy is double speak. […]

Doggone mad



Regarding the Sept. 25 article “Dogs gone, owner upset over decision,” the first paragraph only deemed significant the fact that Sandy Espinoza wanted her 13 dogs back from the Agoura Animal Shelter to take them to Missouri. The fact that a judge determined that these dogs were justifiably seized for “health and safety reasons” doesn’t appear to be relevant in […]

A vote for Oak Park’s Derek Ross



We’ve had the good fortune of living next door to Lauren and Derek Ross since they moved in to Oak Park about five years ago. In all the years we’ve known them, they’ve been the kind of neighbors one would hope for: friendly, sweet, caring and considerate. But then as we got to know them, we realized Derek had a […]