Towards Data Science is Launching as an Independent Publication

Since founding Towards Data Science in 2016, we’ve built the largest publication on Medium with a dedicated community of readers and contributors focused on data science, machine learning, and AI. Medium built a fantastic platform, and we wouldn’t have been able to reach our audience without its help.

As of Monday, February 3, 2025, Towards Data Science will become an independent publication. While Medium has been instrumental in our growth, our priorities have diverged, and we believe this transition will help us better serve our contributors and readers.

A recent Medium policy change caused us to accelerate a plan to go independent. By moving off Medium we can maintain complete control over our editorial vision, protect the domain authority we’ve built, and guide our future growth on our own terms. 

Today, we’re launching our new WordPress site, though some parts of the migration are still a work in progress. We’re in close communication with our contributors to ensure a smooth transition. Despite the move, our mission remains unchanged: We’ll continue to provide the same in-depth coverage of data science, machine learning, and AI – only now on a platform where we can further support authors by utilizing exciting new promotional tools, advanced analytics, and dynamic community features that open up fresh opportunities for engagement and growth. 

Why Independence Makes Sense for TDS

We’ve long recognized that Medium provides valuable hosting, distribution and monetization tools – resources that have helped many writers and publishers (like us!) reach a wide audience. However, as Medium continues to evolve, we believe our long-term goals – as well as those of our readers and contributors – are best supported on an independent platform.

Here’s why we believe an independent platform is the right move:

Improved Accessibility for Readers – We believe in open access to all articles, not in paywalls. Moving to our own platform ensures that all of our content is available without charge to readers.

Ongoing Support for Authors – Our independent platform gives authors greater flexibility to promote their work. This means authors can amplify their voices and engage with new audiences.

Ownership of our Domain Authority – Operating independently allows us to preserve and grow Towards Data Science by not only retaining our search visibility, but also allowing us to experiment with novel content formats and create deeper connections with readers.

For current TDS authors, expect an email soon with details on how to join the new platform.

For new contributors, we’re opening up submissions and would love to feature your work on our new site. More details will follow in the coming days.

Why We’re Moving Now

Recently, Medium started updating its SEO and domain authority structure to consolidate it under the Medium.com domain. Starting on January 31, 2025, articles that were once on TowardsDataScience.com now redirect to Medium URLs. 

While this change fits within Medium’s broader strategy, it significantly affects how independent publications like TDS manage brand visibility and long-term search presence. Since our domain structure is key to discoverability, we saw this as the right moment to launch our independent publication. 

Medium remains a valuable platform for many writers, but our ambitions extend far outside of its paywall. For us at Towards Data Science, moving to an independent platform isn’t just about preserving editorial control – it’s a strategic leap towards growing the publication we’ve spent the last eight years building.

Content Rights Note

We want to be clear that we will only migrate content to our new site if we have the appropriate rights to do so in accordance with Towards Data Science’s terms and conditions. Your work remains under your control, and we’re committed to honoring any prior agreements regarding its use. Only content for which we have the necessary permissions will be transferred, ensuring that your intellectual property is respected throughout this transition.

If you have any questions or concerns about how your content will be handled during this migration, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our editorial team – you can email us here: publication@towardsdatascience.com. We’re here to provide any additional clarification you might need and to address any issues that arise.

Join Us for the Next Chapter of Towards Data Science

To our readers and contributors: thank you for being a part of Towards Data Science. With our new home, we’re set to deliver quality, open-access content on data science, machine learning, and AI and gaining access to a full suite of publishing and marketing tools. 

We hope you’ll join us in TDS’s exciting new chapter. Check out the new site, share your feedback, and help us spread the word as we continue to launch the new site. Your support means everything to us, and we’re excited to show you the future of Towards Data Science.

— The TDS Team 

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