Shortform writer - News and Current Affairs

About YAAS:

At YAAS we help brands become creators. We do it all - scripting, shooting, acting, AI avatars, editing, uploading, and more. Our team creates content that reaches over 400 million+ views every month.

We've worked with top brands like Zepto, Zerodha, Cleartrip, GoKwik, Vodafone-Idea, and Zoho. Now, we're looking for someone who can turn news into content that people actually want to watch - someone who's tired of shouting anchors and clickbait headlines, and has ideas on how news should really be told.

The Role Overview:

News has become noise. Anchors shout to get attention. Headlines are designed to outrage, not inform. Scrolling through the news feels exhausting, not enlightening.

We're building a news and current affairs content channel from scratch - and we need someone who believes news can be interesting without being a nuisance.

What You'll Do:

Research and script-write news and current affairs content

News Research & Story Selection

• Track daily news across politics, economics, social issues, international affairs, and culture
• Identify stories worth covering - not just what's trending, but what matters
• Research context, background, and multiple perspectives on news events
• Verify information from credible sources and fact-check claims
• Understand the difference between reporting and sensationalism

Scriptwriting & Content Creation

• Write scripts that discuss daily news in satirical, humorous, and engaging ways without losing the plot
• Develop explainer formats that detail events of the day with clarity and context
• Experiment with different storytelling approaches - from sharp commentary to straight-up explanations
• Craft hooks that make people actually want to understand the news, not just react to it
• Balance wit, insight, and accuracy - make news entertaining without trivialising it

Format Development & Channel Building

• Create content formats for short-form and long-form news content across platforms
• Understand what makes news content shareable vs what makes it forgettable
• Adapt tone and style based on the story - know when to be satirical, when to be serious
• Iterate based on what resonates with audiences and what actually informs them
• Build a news content channel that people trust and return to

What You'll Get:

• Work on building a news channel that doesn't make people want to throw their phones
• Shape how current affairs content is consumed by millions
• Learn from 400M+ monthly views worth of content strategy and creator insights
• Access to tools, data, and a production team that is quite passionate about creative work

Must Haves:

• Portfolio of published video content or writing samples - show us scripts, videos, or articles you've worked on (news/current affairs content strongly preferred)
• Strong understanding of current affairs across politics, economics, social issues, and culture
• Ability to write in multiple tones - satirical, humorous, explanatory, analytical
• Sharp research skills and commitment to fact-checking and verification
• Understanding of how to simplify complex news stories without dumbing them down
• Awareness of what other news content creators are doing
• Strong scriptwriting ability for short-form and explainer content
• High output capacity - comfortable scripting multiple news pieces per week
• Interest in building a news content channel from scratch

Nice to Have:

• Background in journalism, political science, economics, or media studies
• Experience writing satire, commentary, or opinion pieces
• Understanding of Indian politics, policy, and governance
• Familiarity with international news and geopolitics
• Experience with YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn news content strategy
• Knowledge of media bias, fact-checking methodologies, and journalistic standards

What We're Not Looking For:

• Lazy "both sides" takes without nuance or depth
• Inability to separate opinion from fact
• Resistance to fact-checking or verifying sources
• Writing that's more outrage than insight
• Slow turnaround times or inability to cover breaking news quickly
• Lack of awareness of the current news content ecosystem

Why YAAS

You'll be working at an organisation that's redefining how brands connect with the world. And you'll do it alongside a high-performing team that moves fast and creates impact with storytelling.