2011-05-12

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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

Dance helps student recover after devastating fire



Four years ago, Agoura High School junior Matilda Sakamoto and her mom, Tamara Noland, lost everything they owned in a fire that swept through Malibu and claimed the homes of many neighbors in that small, tight-knit community. “There wasn’t time to save anything,” said Noland, an photographer who lost a lifelong collection of antique cameras in the fire. “Everything we […]

‘Cinderella’ ballet is timeless



The Conejo Civic Ballet Company and Ballet Arts School of Dance present the timeless fairy tale “Cinderella” at 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 20 and at 2:30 p.m. Sat., May 21 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets are available at the box office, through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Concert is a ‘masterpiece’



The final concert of the New West Symphony’s 2010- 11 Masterpiece Series season will feature Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” at 8 p.m. Fri., May 13 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, and again at 8 p.m. Sat., May 14 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The New West Symphony Chorus in […]

“Something Borrowed”



Watching the first half of “Something Borrowed,” I suspected I’d seen it all before. Rachel and Darcy (Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson) are lifelong best friends. Shy, prim Rachel’s had a crush on her handsome college buddy Dexter (Colin Egglesfield) for a long time, but despite all those doe-eyed dormroom evenings alone, Rachel never expected more from Dex than friendship. Along […]

High school benefit honors moms




The annual Mother’s Day show benefiting local high school choirs took place Sunday afternoon at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The show is sponsored by the Harmony Oaks Chorus. This year’s theme choice, “Songs of the Silver Screen,” was mystifying since many of the songs performed had nothing to do with motion pictures. The benefit’s usual host, Dick Van […]

Datebook



THURS., MAY 12 Woodland Hills Republican Women Federated 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Woodland Hills Country Club, 21150 Dumetz Road. Lunch served. Guest speakers comedian Mason Weaver and talk show host Kevin James. $22. RSVP requested. Phone: 818.225.0843 Contact: Jane Time: 10:30 a.m. Date: 5/12/2011 Conejo Ventura Mac User Group 7 to 9 p.m. in room 1, Nygreen Hall, […]

Take Your Acorn on Vacation

E-mail your photos to vacation@theacorn.com

How to submit: E-mail your vacation photo as a .jpg attachment only to vacation@theacorn.com. Include name, address, phone number and a brief description of the scene. All entries will be published after the 2011 winners are announced on either the first or second week of October 2011. Thank you!

Westlake dominates Marmonte meet

Swimmers earn convincing sweep at league finals


Todd Irmas will savor this victory. Westlake High’s swim coach received a memorable going-away gift. The Warriors swept the firstplace team scores during the Marmonte League Swimming Championships last week, from varsity boys and girls all the way down to both junior varsity squads. Westlake also swept league finals in 2006. “You can’t feel any better than this,” said Irmas, […]

Volleyball teams advance in playoffs



In the first round of the CIF-Southern Section boys’ volleyball playoffs, Marmonte League champion Westlake High trounced Wilson of Long Beach 25-14, 25-16, 25-14 in Division 1. In Division 2 action, Oak Park, Tri Valley League champs, obliterated Pioneer Valley in three games while Oaks Christian knocked off Saddleback in a sweep. Division 5 Viewpoint, which won the Liberty League, […]

Warriors survive to play another day

Boys’ golfers nab third place at Northern Divisional


Brandon Kelley felt deflated. The Westlake High sophomore golfer didn’t sugarcoat his performance during the CIFSouthern Section Northern Team Divisional at Ojai’s Soule Park Golf Course on Monday. “I shot terrible,” Kelley said. He shot an 81, and he thought his Warriors were going home early. Once all the scores were tallied, Kelley and his teammates realized that they finished […]