Contract

Weekend News Curator & Engagement Editor

Haystack News

Haystack News

11-50 employees

Free ad-supported video news aggregator

No salary listed

Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Hybrid

Remote on weekends; in-office three mornings per week.

Category
Journalism (1)
Requirements
  • 2+ years of experience in broadcast or digital news.
  • Strong journalism judgment; experience or interest in digital content creation for audience engagement.
  • Desire and ability to work in a fast-paced environment; enjoys working in small teams.
  • Tech-savvy and able to quickly learn and adapt to new digital tools and evolving content trends.
Responsibilities
  • Plan and shape the news of the day for millions of users, sifting through stories from hundreds of channels to use your news judgement and experience to highlight the most compelling content for our users.
  • Manage breaking news events with urgency and accuracy, keeping Haystack’s platform filled with the latest updates on weekends.
  • Coordinate with news partners to feature timely and impactful content.
  • Support editorial planning and special coverage for major news events.
  • Write and send targeted push notifications to users.
  • Create engaging content such as polls, quizzes, and social media posts.
  • Produce compelling social media and on-platform content, occasionally appearing on camera.
  • Support audience growth through strategic content creation across various digital channels.
Desired Qualifications
  • Familiarity or comfort appearing on camera and basic video production skills are highly desirable.

Haystack News provides free, ad-supported streaming of local, national, and international video news. It aggregates news content from partners and offers live 24/7 channels plus on-demand clips, delivered through a personalized playlist that uses the viewer’s location and interests. The platform runs ads within streams to monetize, with a premium subscription available to remove ads. It works across many devices, including smart TVs, OTT boxes, and mobile apps, and includes features like an interactive Newsline ticker. Haystack News differentiates itself by securing local news coverage in over 90% of U.S. markets through partnerships with nearly 300 broadcast stations and by combining personalized, short-form clips with live feeds on an ad-supported model. Its goal is to give cord-cutters and other viewers easy access to a broad, personalized news experience without needing a traditional cable subscription.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Early VC

Total Funding

$4.5M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2013

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • 114% employee growth to 47 staff supports scaling operations and product development.
  • Live 24/7 channels from ABC News, CBS News, Bloomberg expand premium content offerings.
  • Smart TV integration with Samsung, Vizio, Roku positions Haystack in high-engagement viewing environments.

What critics are saying

  • YouTube Shorts' 2.5B users and superior algorithms directly cannibalize Haystack's 25M user base.
  • Roku and Samsung launching proprietary news features eliminate third-party app distribution and ad revenue.
  • Local broadcasters launching direct-to-consumer apps reduce content licensing and threaten 90% market coverage claim.

What makes Haystack News unique

  • Aggregates 350+ channels covering 90% of U.S. local markets through 300 broadcast partnerships.
  • Personalized news curation using location, interests, and publisher preferences across devices.
  • Free ad-supported model with premium option, generating $9.4M revenue at $200.8K per employee.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Growth & Insights

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

-2%

2 year growth

-2%