2010-06-24

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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

Budget no problem for Agoura Hills



Despite the state’s $19-billion shortfall, officials in Agoura Hills have achieved a balanced budget that will maintain all city services. In addition to keeping a healthy reserve, the city will contribute small grants to community groups and nonprofit organizations. At a budget workshop on June 11, Agoura Hills officials outlined details of the 2010-11 city budget and where the spending […]

Brookside students win race to the top



Ongoing school budget cuts raise frustration level



California’s depleted budget has become a never-ending source of frustration for local school officials, who now compare the state’s financial situation to a “circus” with ringmasters in Sacramento pulling strings in one sector of the economy in order to eke out funds that will resuscitate programs in another sector. Public schools seem caught in a high wire act. While 48 […]

Septic tank issue raises a stink in Old Topanga

Residents fear sewers lead to development

More than a quarter of residents with septic tanks in Calabasas are ignoring a new city ordinance that requires the systems to be inspected. Despite a May 14 deadline, only 60 of the 141 properties with septic tanks have begun to have their tanks looked at, and 45 have requested a six-month extension. The remaining 36 haven’t responded to the […]

Class of 2010 glad to finally move on



Westlake Village chalk talk



Summer concert series underway in Westlake



Rev. Stapleford retires as minister of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship



The Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford is retiring after 12 years as minister of the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, a tenure during which membership doubled. Stapleford helped guide the fellowship into its own home in the Songbird Office Park in Newbury Park in 2008 after many years of the church renting spaces for services and events. Her last Sunday service […]

Datebook



THURS., JUNE 24 Agoura Newcomers Club Spring tea at 5945 Wheelhouse Lane, Agoura Hills. RSVP requested. Phone: 818.889.7150 Time: 11:00 a.m. Date: 6/24/2010 Chamber Of Commerce Reception 5 to 8 p.m. at Volvo of Calabasas, 24400 Calabasas Road. Reception for International Theater Festival of Calabasas sponsored by Agoura/ Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber. Special guest actress and director Linda Purl. Free. […]

Latter-day Saint youths serve others



Around the world each year teens from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get together during the first week of summer break to do service projects. More than 200 young people ages 14 through 18 from Thousand Oaks and Moorpark gath- ered for an annual youth conference, “Extreme Makeover: A Mighty Change,” at the church’s stake center, 1600 […]