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BOSTON — It is Week 101 at The Latino Newsletter, with a couple of weeks to go until our second birthday on May 28. I am returning from some much-needed family time to celebrate my daughter getting her master’s in public health. As I get older, I have come to appreciate the privilege of being together with family more and more. Being disconnected from work is healing.
Disconnecting also makes me reflective. I never thought The Latino Newsletter would even reach its second birthday, but here we are, and I am committed to keeping it going because I believe we are gradually becoming a go-to newsletter, podcast, and outlet for our community. We also know there are many of us focused on the same mission, although I don’t see those outlets as competition.
There is a bigger fight that requires all the focus.
The only real competition is AI and the slop it produces as it tries to decimate independent journalism and our voices. I refuse to let that happen, and it is exactly why The Latino Newsletter exists.
The more trust we can build with strong writing, reporting, and commentary, the more we can combat the lack of trust in media in the first place.
Over the past two years, more than 120 contributors have filed over 500 stories for The Latino Newsletter. All the stories are free and accessible on platforms such as Beehiiv, the Latino Media Content Hub, MSN, and LinkedIn. We don’t believe in paywalls, and we won’t seek permission to tell stories and uplift voices that are often ignored. Some of our contributors are early-track journalists filing some of their first pieces. Others are established voices with decades of experience. What they share is a commitment to stories that often go untold.
A few examples from the past few weeks:
Cris Seda Chabrier on how Airbnbs are displacing residents in Culebra
Rosanna Marinelli, through our partnership with Boston’s El Planeta, on New England’s largest Latino cultural center
Incredible photography by veteran L.A.-based photojournalist Francisco Lozano
Your support makes it possible. Here is what it can help us do:
$200: One original reported story from a freelance contributor (that's around $17/month for a recurring donation)
$500: A series of 2-3 reported stories from a local community journalist (that's around $42/month for a recurring donation)
$750: At least 4 stories from a contributor (that's around $62/month for a recurring donation)
This month, we are running our birthday campaign with a goal of $25,000, and we have already raised $2,707, 11% of our goal, from 21 supporters.
Soon, we will be making our Phase 2 growth plans public, but in the meantime, we are also trying to keep publishing five times a week and featuring contributors who have been delivering stellar work.
JRV
(If you missed my May 4 post on why I founded The Latino Newsletter, read it here. And if you missed the May 11 post on how your donations fund accountability reporting in Puerto Rico, read it here. All startup journey posts are here.)
What We’re Reading
Welcome, Cinelandia: Congratulations to the Cinelandia team on their launch. We wish you all the best as a trusted guide to Latino cinema.
Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder of The Latino Newsletter. He is also its current part-time publisher and executive director. He edited and published this edition.