2021-09-09

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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

Frustration builds over new housing laws

EDITORIAL

Rarely do our editorials venture into the state Capitol, but then again, what’s currently happening in Sacramento is impacting our readers in ways we can’t ignore. We’re not talking about the Sept. 14 recall election. What is concerning is the recent passage of Senate bills 9 and 10, which have gained the legislature’s approval and need only Gov. Gavin Newsom’s […]

Too hard on the mayor

In regard to Mr. Jack Koenig and his letter in last week’s edition criticizing Mayor Denis Weber and his handling of the Cronies situation, I would like to ask him: What “law” was broken by the unnamed restaurant owner and the establishment? A citation would be helpful. Secondly, how did the mayor run afoul of the Brown Act? Please be […]

Safe voting a priority

Regarding the Sept. 2 letters to the editor and one writer’s desire to have her vote count, I too concur that for a free and fair election, it does indeed mean “one person, one vote.” In spite of the report of rising theft of U.S. mail, there are provisions in place that ensure that our mail-in ballots are secure. If […]

People entitled to their opinions

The Acorn’s letter to the editor section, Aug. 26 edition, is to be congratulated for printing letters that obviously other letter writers do not want printed. They disagree with the politics or conclusions drawn by the writer, and refer to them as “blatant misinformation.” They should note that these letters are opinion, not necessarily facts. If facts are what you […]

Wildlife bridge courts danger

How many more warnings do we need that building a largely taxpayer-funded dirt bridge, designed and admitted by the National Park Service to lure mountain lions into our neighborhood, and which was never subjected to an environmental impact report, is a dangerous idea? Sadly, as I’m trying to get the images of a screaming, desperate mother chasing her punctured, helpless […]

False promise of tax cuts

Several candidates hoping to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the recall election promise to cut state taxes. Their promises are false. Taxes are controlled by the Legislature, which is overwhelming Democrat. Indeed, none of the Republican candidates would have much success implementing their plans. Moreover, none of them could block laws passed by the Legislature, where the Democrats have veto- […]

‘Landslide’ on Sept. 14?

Still stinging from their political defeats and shadowing their collective responsibility for believing and spreading “the big lie” resulting in the insurrection on our U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, a California group has managed to qualify their grievances, you might have heard, with a huge victory: a recall effort. Running on empty, devoid of candidates that can articulate a clear […]

Legal defense team goes on offense in civil case

Local man suing attorneys for breach of contract


A Lake Sherwood investment banker who was acquitted of trying to kill his estranged wife is back in court, suing one of the law firms that represented him. In July 2019, one month after a jury found him not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of the lesser charge of domestic violence, Craig Noell filed paperwork in Los Angeles Superior […]

Exploring safe, clean water

Local water issues will be examined in depth at a North Santa Monica Bay Watershed community meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 23 on Zoom. Meeting co-hosts are Melina Sempill Watts, Bill Buerge, Jeremy Wolf and Susan Nissman. The discussion will cover opportunities to source water locally and to improve water quality. Attendees can connect with city and […]

Teen dies in Hillcrest Dr. crash

Young life cut short


The Conejo Valley community is rallying around four Thousand Oaks teens who were seriously injured in a Sept. 1 car crash that left another teenager dead. Safe Passage, which works with at-risk children and those from low-income communities, has set up an accident relief fund via GoFundMe to help cover medical bills for the four—who range in age from 14 […]