2020-10-15

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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

Analysis of Proposition 22

Regarding Proposition 22, a “yes” vote supports this ballot initiative to define app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers as independent contractors and adopt labor and wage policies specific to appbased drivers and companies. A “no” vote opposes this ballot initiative, meaning California Assembly Bill 5 (2019) could be used to decide whether app-based drivers are employees or independent contractors. Yes, […]

Affirmative Action redux

I find myself shocked that decades of social justice progress are being thrown out the window by the political left who were formally crusaders in accomplishing that progress. How many liberals walked shoulder to shoulder in the streets with Black Americans demanding, and finally obtaining, equal treatment under the law for everyone no matter his or her color, creed, country […]

Evacuations look different in the time of coronavirus



When the Hill and Woolsey fires surrounded the Conejo Valley in a ring of flames in November 2018, over 1,400 residents fled their homes and found shelter in Red Cross evacuation centers. The menace of wildfires this year loomed larger than ever as clouds of smoke blanketed the West Coast of the United States. But a new threat.coronavirus. means that […]

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER

Agoura Hills Someone entered an unlocked vehicle parked on Rock Tree Drive on Oct. 3 and stole a nursing bag, two blood pressure machines, a stethoscope, an oxygen meter, a thermometer, a carrier box and miscellaneous medical products, all worth $326. On Sept. 30 a thief stole the catalytic converter off a car parked on Canwood Street. The culprit caused […]

Keeping a watch over campaign signs

With the Nov. 3 general election drawing near, the state is reminding political candidates and campaign workers for either an office or a ballot measure about the California state law governing the placement of temporary political signs within view of a state highway. The State Outdoor Advertising Act allows an exemption for the placement of temporary political signs along certain […]

Memorial embraces lives of two young victims



There’s space in posthumous remembrance to polish the rough edges around a person, to say their spark burned brighter, that they laughed louder and spoke with greater clarity than people actually remember. There’s room to lionize. But there was no need for any of that in remembering Mark and Jacob Iskander. The two boys, ages 11 and 8 respectively, touched […]

LAS VIRGENES SCHOOL BOARD

ELECTION 2020

THREE CANDIDATES ARE COMPETING FOR TWO SEATS ON THE LAS VIRGENES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE TERM IN OFFICE IS FOUR YEARS. THESE ARE THE THREE CONTENDERS. KIYOMI KOWALSKI AGE: 41 PROFESSION: Staff and board member at LAW Project of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that provides legal advocacy for system-involved youth and families FAMILY: Partner of David […]

Board hopefuls debate back-to-school, finance, diversity and bullying



The three candidates for the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Trustees participated in a spirited forum Tuesday night, with two seats up for election Nov. 3. The digital forum, sponsored by the City of Calabasas and The Acorn, posed 14 questions to the three candidates: incumbent Linda Menges and challengers Kiyomi Kowalski and Kathryn Vadehra. Candidates were asked […]

Sister’s illness inspires blood drive

Matt Miles, a 17-year-old football player at Agoura High School, will host a blood drive for the community from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Oct. 24 and 25, in the parking lot of the YMCA, 35505 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village. This is the third year Matt has held the drive. He began the drives after […]

High schoolers sweep the beach

CIVIC DUTY—Members of the Oak Park High School Our Future Club clean up trash at Topanga Beach. At far right is junior Leo Mazzocco, club president. The boys collected multiple bags of trash during the Oct. 11 cleanup. Heal the Bay ranks Topanga as the fifth dirtiest beach in California.