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 to provide communities a trusted source of news and information while capturing a greater share of corporate ad budgets.

And we’re doing it by applying AI to a much-needed service weighed down by a broken business model.

The Role

We’re hiring a full-time Local News Editor/Producer to help us scale – someone who’s 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

Launch & Grow New Outlets

Help stand up and manage dozens of new local news sites
Experiment with headlines, formats, and timing to drive engagement

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

Location: Remote

Type: Full-time

Experience: 0–3 years

Surround Sound Media

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Local News Editor/Producer (AI, Remote)