2015-07-16

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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

Dry weather puts burn ban in effect throughout Ventura County



With increased fire activity and dry weather conditions, the Ventura County Fire Department has suspended all burning permits and open fires for Ventura County. In collaboration with Cal Fire, this burn suspension is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice. This includes agricultural burning within or near the State Responsibility Area. Agricultural burning in the Local Responsibility […]

Water woes



I get that there is a water shortage. I see the receding lake shores. I see the below averages for rainfall. But when California unnecessarily takes in thousands of illegals, continues to allow new home construction, continues to allow pools to be built without the infrastructure to support everything, I have to wonder about the severity of the drought. When […]

Filing period opens for seats on city councils, school board




Election season is upon us, and candidates vying for seats in the cities of Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village as well as Las Virgenes Unified School District must abide by some deadlines. The filing period for potential city council candidates in all three cities and the school district opened July 13 and will close Fri., Aug. 7. If an […]

Annexation delay costly to Calabasas

Development in Liberty Canyon triggers debate


Despite resistance from some officials and residents in neighboring Agoura Hills, the City of Calabasas will move forward with a plan to bring 43 acres of unincorporated territory at Liberty Canyon into its borders. The normally warm relationship between the two cities hit a hurdle last year when Calabasas filed an application with L.A. County to annex six properties adjacent […]

Selleck offers to settle water dispute




Tom Selleck has offered to settle a dispute with Calleguas Municipal Water District over thousands of gallons of water allegedly taken from the district for use on the actor’s 60-acre ranch in the Hidden Valley area of Thousand Oaks. The allegations against the star of the 1980s television series “Magnum, P.I.” and CBS’s current drama “Blue Bloods” drew worldwide media […]

Heroes in our midst

Doctor, lawyers lauded for their rescue efforts

Three members of the Malibu Search and Rescue Team received awards for heroism last week from the Mountain Rescue Association, an organization that offers training and certification to search and rescue teams. The awards were given for team members’ efforts to rescue four hikers who were stranded at Malibu Creek State Park on a rock in a rushing river during […]

Sheriff’s Blotter



Agoura Hills A thief stole $190,000 worth of computer equipment and caused $6,200 in damage breaking into a business on Derry Avenue July 5. A burglar caused $ 550 in damage breaking into Padris restaurant in the 29000 block of Agoura Road July 1. The victim was not sure whether anything was stolen when the report was filed. A vandal […]

NPS designation will further protect open space



A U.S. National Park Service study that’s been seven years in the making is nearing its conclusion. And the likely end result is that some of the mountains encircling neighboring Simi Valley will soon become part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a unit of the NPS. The study, launched in 2008 at the bequest of Congress, focuses […]

Cartoon



Trail safety is a serious matter



Thank you very much for publishing the article on trail etiquette on June 25. It seems that Mark Langton has taken the situation seriously, and I am thankful for his contribution to make the trails better for everyone. As a hiker, road cyclist and equestrian, I know how to act on the trails. Unfortunately, most of the mountain bikers I […]