| Date Posted | August 28, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital Media |
| Specialty | Local News |
| Remote / Telecommute | Telecommute |
| Job Status | Full-time |
| Salary | Not Specified |
Description:
Surround Sound News is building the country's largest network of local news outlets. Our mission is simple: make high-quality local news and information sustainable again.
Using a combination of AI and experienced journalists, we produce timely, relevant reporting for communities across the United States. Our outlets focus on the stories that matter most to residents—from local government and schools to businesses, development, sports and community events.
We're looking for full-time Local News Producers who can help make each of those outlets a daily habit for the communities they serve.
About Us
Local news is the most trusted source of information in the United States (73% of Americans believe and trust local news compared to ~30% who trust national outlets). Local news, however, is a highly splintered industry suffering from a deteriorating business model unable to capture much of the $169 billion annual ad spend.
We’re looking to change that. At Surround Sound News, we are building an AI platform that fuels wholly-owned local news outlets. We’re creating a single network that can capture a greater share of corporate ad budgets while providing communities a trusted source of news and information. And we’re doing it by applying AI to a much-needed community resource weighed down by a broken business model.
The Role
A Local News Producer is equal parts journalist, engagement lead, and AI-native.
You’ll help launch new sites and be the quality-control editor between AI-generated output and what deserves to be published.
What You’ll Do
Be the Human-in-the-Loop
Fact-check, review and refine AI-generated articles before they go live
Catch errors, weak framing, or anything that feels “off”
Make quick editorial calls under tight timelines
Find What’s Missing
Spot stories the AI didn’t catch
Add context, nuance, or “color” that makes coverage useful
Flag gaps in coverage and push for better storytelling
Who You Are
A journalist (or recent grad) who wants to build something new
Strong editorial instincts: you know what’s newsworthy and what’s not
A stickler for detail and accuracy: you’ve got a copy editor’s eye
Comfortable using AI tools in your workflow
Deeply online: you understand how content spreads and what gets attention
You care about local news and community storytelling
You get excited about change and move with speed
Why Join Us
Ground-floor role in a fast-moving media startup
Real ownership from day one (you won’t be stuck doing busywork)
Work at the intersection of AI, media, and distribution
High-impact: your work will directly shape dozens of local outlets
To apply, email your resume to dennis@surroundsoundnews.com
A word about the AI because you're a journalist and you're going to ask. Our system does the work that reporters, copy editors, and assignment editors used to do before those jobs started to dwindle — combing public meetings, agendas, filings, and community sources for stories few people cover anymore. AI doesn't publish. Our local editor/producers do. They fact-check every article, approve some, kill others, and rewrite the headlines. The system learns from every edit. A managing editor with a few decades in competitive newsrooms tells the AI when it's being dumb. We're not replacing newsrooms. We're covering communities where school board and city council meetings get scant attention.
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