4 minutes reading‘
On December 17, 1995, when the Internet was still a domestic curiosity and the word “news site” was not part of everyday vocabulary, THE NATION took a step that would shape its history: the introduction of lanacion.comone of the first digital media in Argentina and Latin America. Thirty years later, this groundbreaking experiment has become one of the most influential digital information platforms in the region and the heart of an ever-evolving publishing ecosystem.
The website has received several awards worldwide for its technological product and journalistic content. In its beginnings, the website was an extension of the paper newspaper, the content of which was conveyed in an almost artisanal manner and still with an exploratory logic. There were no real-time metrics, social media or smartphones. Yes, there was an early conviction: journalism had to be where the readers were, even in a new, uncertain area and still without clear rules.
This process of constant change has accelerated over the last decade, with an increasing focus on the reader experience and building a subscriber community.
Over time, it ceased to be a “digital mirror” and became its own newsroom with specific identities, languages and routines. Live reporting, data journalism, multimedia specials, newsletters, audio, video and, more recently, artificial intelligence for journalistic work have been added. Each phase involved not only technological but also cultural changes: new ways of storytelling, investigation and dialogue with audiences.
This process of constant change has accelerated over the last decade, with an increasing focus on the reader experience and building a subscriber community. The launch of successive versions of the site – reaching LN10, the latest – reflected this view: a more agile, personalized design, designed for multiple devices and consumption habits, but without sacrificing editorial hierarchy or depth of information.
From this perspective, Jose Del Riocurrent Content Director of THE NATIONusually defines the digital transformation of the medium as a continuous process and not as a closed goal. The development of the website is not just a response to aesthetic or technological changes, but to a strategic decision: to put journalism and readers at the center and to use innovation as a tool to better tell complex, relevant and reliable stories. In this way, technology – including artificial intelligence – appears as an ally that improves, but never replaces, the work of journalists.
In these 30 years lanacion.com He was a witness and protagonist of important moments in the country’s political, economic, social and cultural life. It covered elections, crises, changes of government, tragedies and celebrations; investigated corruption cases; explained economic changes and accompanied profound debates in Argentine society. It also expanded its agenda: it added science, health, education, sustainability, technology, lifestyle and sports, with a multiplatform logic that was obvious today but groundbreaking back then.
The growth of the website was accompanied by an expansion of the digital ecosystem THE NATION: LN Games, LN+, LN 104.9 +Music, newsletters, thematic sectors (including well-being, mobility, real estate, land, FuturIA and Qué Sale!), podcasts, documentaries, events and exclusive experiences for subscribers. All with a common goal: to provide reliable information, in-depth analysis and innovative formats that respect readers’ time and intelligence.
Thirty years after this December 17, 1995 lanacion.com It’s still a lab in motion. However, the essence remains: independent quality journalism with a vocation of public service, adapted to each era and each platform. The site’s story is ultimately the story of a newsroom that recognized early on that change was not a threat but a permanent condition for the profession.
And that even in the midst of dizzying technological changes, the core value remains the same: telling reality with accuracy, context and responsibility.
About The Author
