2014-01-16

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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

2014-01-16 E-Edition

$12.7-million water tank gets final OK

But it will cost more than expected


Following four hours of acrimonious debate on Tuesday evening, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District board of directors voted 3-2 to begin construction of a new 5-million gallon water tank in the Three Springs Neighborhood of Westlake Village. The expected cost for the tank when proposed in 2009 was $6.6 million. It will cost almost twice as much. The tank […]

Notorious Calabasas resident finds trouble again

A $20,000 egg fight?


The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the show-of-force to crackdown on alleged egg-thrower Justin Bieber was warranted. The incident Tuesday caused a national paparazzi frenzy. At about 8 a.m. Tues., Jan 14, a dozen detectives from the Lost Hills station conducted a felony search warrant on Bieber’s mansion in The Oaks of Calabasas. Authorities were looking for evidence relating […]

Good work if you can get it

Benefits are key in local city pay


Although budgets are healthier now, local city governments are still keeping a close eye on how much their employees earn in salaries and benefits. Taxpayers remain curious, too. Government compensation, especially its defined pension component, came under heavy scrutiny during the recession of 2008-2012. Private sector employees haven’t forgotten that while their workrelated benefits dwindled during the economic downturn, the […]

Dry, windy, dangerous



Fight lingers over homes




The 13-year debate over the development of the Heschel School property—the 71 acres just east of Old Agoura that is now being called Chesebro Meadow—seemed like it was over. Last July, the City of Agoura Hills sold the land in unincorporated Los Angeles County to a Southern California developer for $900,000. Twenty acres will be developed into 15 custom equestrian […]

On freeways, no pain no gain



It’s going to take a lot more than one interchange expansion to fix this area’s congested freeways. Still, yesterday’s groundbreaking for new improvements to the 101 and 23 junction was a major breakthrough for local drivers fed up with the gridlock. Ever since portions of the 23 and 118 freeways were expanded in the late 2000s, the heavily traveled interchange—which […]

Frisbee playing in the park turns into dog fight



I got a big smile on my face seeing the Jan. 2 Acorn cover photo of a young man playing Frisbee with his dog at the park. Great photo. Positive photo. Then I had a thought: I wondered what holier-than-thou, rulebook slapping person is going to kick up a fuss about that photo? Then I wondered: If they did, will […]

So long, Westlake



With the beginning of 2014 we say goodbye to what we have affectionately known as our small paradise in the country, the City of Westlake Village. Well-connected business people have dangled dollar signs and made all types of promises to the hardworking members of our City Council, convincing them to make life-altering changes. The flood gates have been opened to […]

City erred in sale of Chesebro land



The development of the Chesebro Meadow would be a tragedy. Residents of Old Agoura have fought so long and hard to protect this gem of open space which is so special to our way of life, as well as being of great importance for all the wildlife which migrate across and reside in the meadow. Our battle should be one […]