Why We Launched Tiempo News on Substack

A new chapter for the media outlet, betting on a community of readers

As Director of Product and Growth at Tiempo, I’m writing today to share one of the most thoughtful and exciting decisions we’ve recently made: the launch of Tiempo and the migration of all our newsletters to a new home, Substack.

In a content-saturated world, at Tiempo, we have set our compass in one direction: depth. Whether it’s an analytical article, a video exploring the nuances of a news story, or a podcast seeking to understand the world through conversation, our commitment is to ideas that invite reflection, to understanding the context, identifying the narratives, and providing multiple perspectives. We don’t believe one format is inherently better than another; we believe in the value of informed analysis and opinion, regardless of the medium.

And that is precisely why we have chosen Substack. We see this platform as much more than a tool for sending newsletters. We see it as a place where we can unify all our work—text, audio, and video—in a coherent way, and, more importantly, where we hope to find a community that seeks exactly what we are passionate about creating and with whom we can converse directly.

Our biggest bet is on “readers,” in the broadest sense of the word. People who, regardless of whether they prefer to read an essay, listen to an interview, or watch a report, value the time spent understanding a topic in depth. We believe that in the age of fragmented attention, there is a growing audience for content that respects their intelligence. And we have a hunch that audience is right here.

Substack is presenting itself as a vibrant, increasingly Spanish-speaking ecosystem, full of creators and curious readers. Our intention is not just to benefit from this network, but to become an active member of it. We want to grow with this community and, at the same time, help it grow, discovering and recommending other valuable voices that share our philosophy.

Now, this decision implies a conscious choice, a strategic bet that I want to share with total transparency. We have internally summarized it as “growth versus control.”

We know what we are sacrificing in the short term. We give up detailed control over the design and customization of our brand, something we have prioritized in the past. We leave behind more sophisticated marketing tools, such as automated sequences or advanced audience segmentation. And we accept that external search engine optimization, like for Google, is not the platform’s strong suit.

But this is a deliberate gamble. At this stage of our development, our absolute priority is growth and building a solid community. We believe that Substack’s “network effect” and its recommendation system will give us a boost to reach new audiences in a more organic and authentic way than any external marketing campaign. We are betting that the value of connecting and having conversations with a committed community of readers will far outweigh the platform’s technical limitations.

This move also marks the beginning of a new chapter for our sustainability. Along with the launch on Substack, we will introduce a paid subscription model. For quality, independent, and ambitious journalism to thrive, it needs multiple revenue streams. The most fundamental of all is the direct support of the community it serves. By subscribing, you will not only be paying for content; you will be investing in a healthier media model and becoming partners in our mission.

Will it work? We don’t have all the answers. This is new territory for us, an experiment we undertake with humility and an enormous dose of optimism. It is our most sincere commitment to journalism, to a sustainable business model, and, above all, to a community of people who believe that ideas matter.

We truly hope you will join us in this new chapter. Thank you for being here.