2019-12-26

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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

Update on last week’s article about EV cars

Thanks for your extensive article on electric vehicles. Those contemplating buying an all-electric vehicle should understand that the way one charges it is not the way one fills up a tank with gas. Most charging is done at home, overnight, and requires an installed 240-volt charger just to get about 20 miles of charge per hour. It’s laudable that our […]

A little unsure about those driverless cars

Drivers look at each other so they can judge intent. We do this when we get to a four-way stop at the same time. The vehicle farthest to the right has the right-of-way. The human that waves you on does that because he can’t remember who stopped first. He doesn’t want to look like a jerk so he decides to […]

Mountain lions can be a threat

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Tim Daly says a Simi neighborhood is considered mountain lion habitat. No, Tim, a Simi neighborhood is considered human habitat. When a family pet is torn open alive by a 160- to 200-pound bloodthirsty predator and has its lower internal organs chewed upon while the animal helplessly watches in the backyard of a […]

In memory

Karyn Foley, a member of the Calabasas Cityhood Committee and an original City Council person, died March 9 at the age of 82. She was the city’s first female mayor in 1994. Don Wallace, a longtime Calabasas resident and widely respected environmental leader, died Jan. 29 at age 78. Wallace, a Los Angeles Fire Department captain and Los Angeles County […]

Bridges a big story in Agoura Hills



Two freeway overpasses, one for humans and the other for animals, grabbed headlines in Agoura Hills this year. In 2019, work plowed ahead on the $13-million bridge and interchange makeover at Chesebro Road in Agoura Hills. The new overpass is expected to be completed later this year. In April, the city joined 24 other California municipalities in a lawsuit that […]

Year in business

A request by the City of Calabsas to annex a 43-acre parcel of land from Los Angeles County was turned down in January, closing the door on the city’s hope for an additional $600,000 a year in tax revenue the business could bring. The City of Agoura Hills appeared to be the front-runner in the annexation of the valuable parcel. […]

The Acorn brought you these cover-to-cover stories in 2019

Woman in a pickle finds her answer

Game helps with tremendous weight loss


Struggling with weight and self-confidence issues, Mandy Harnoy decided to play a game, and it paid off. Over the last 15 months the Woodland Hills resident has shed more than 100 pounds due to a newfound passion for pickleball. It all started with a phone call from a friend. “She said she’d discovered this funny little game, you can play […]

Brandon Paul Canning

On Monday, December 16th, Brandon Paul Canning, loving son, brother, uncle and grandson passed away suddenly at the age of 36. Brandon will be forever remembered by his mother Melanie [spouse Dwayne] Servillo, father Jack [spouse Lisa] Canning, sister Christa Canning, sister Allison [spouse Eric] Weals, grandmother Midge Herder, and nephews Johnny and Brayden Weals. Brandon was born in Burbank […]

Seeking art for ‘Hang with the Best’ show

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley is calling for submissions from artists in grades six through 12 for an exhibit titled “Hang with the Best 20/20.” Art can be submitted using different media, including paint, photography, 3D and drawing. All works will be judged by professional artists. Submissions will be accepted from 4 to 6 p.m. Tues., Jan. 14. […]