how I fully automated hijacking the news to go viral

step-by-step instructions inside

Hey there, solopreneur!

Over the past three years, I've used this one technique to create massive attention online like clockwork.

It's one of the few things that just keeps working.

The technique?

Newsjacking

Literally jumping on an airplane that's already flying and injecting your own opinion into trending stories.

Think of it like this:

The best things in life mix something familiar with a new twist.

Hit songs work this way, they have something we already recognize, but with a fresh angle. It's incredibly rare for a completely original song with zero references to become a massive hit.

Viral content follows the same pattern.

But here's the thing, most people do newsjacking completely wrong.

They either:

  • Jump on every trend without authenticity (and get ignored)

  • Miss the timing window entirely

  • Blindly share news instead of adding their own spice

  • Pick stories that don't connect to their expertise

  • Do it manually and end up doomscrolling

Today I'm sharing my exact two-prompt system for finding viral-worthy news and turning it into content that feels authentically you while creating followers and sweet green Benjamins for your business.

This isn't just for creators. If you have a business and need attention for literally anything, this technique will make you a better marketer.

POV: me trying to newsjack before takeoff

Why Newsjacking Works in 2025

Newsjacking works especially well on X. Why? It uses the foundational DNA of the platform:

  • X is news-driven

  • X is controversy-driven

  • X rewards fast reactions to breaking stories

As a new father, I can't afford to waste hours doom scrolling news sites. Getting locked into negativity all day? No thanks.

My reptile brain doesn't need to think I'm in danger when I'm not.

That's exactly why using AI for this research is game-changing.

Here's what's happening right now:

Everyone's pumping out generic AI content. People are getting tired of it.

Audiences desperately want authentic human reactions to real events.

When something big happens, thousands rush to social media asking "What does this mean?"

That's your opening.

Think about it: Someone else already did the hard work of creating a moment everyone's talking about.

You just add your unique spice or use the story to lead into a slightly related topic.

But here's the catch: 

You have roughly 6-12 hours from when a story breaks to when the conversation moves on.

Speed + authenticity = viral gold.

The Psychology Behind Viral Newsjacking

Here's what's actually happening in people's brains when you newsjack effectively:

1. Attention Arbitrage: Everyone's already paying attention to the story. You're just redirecting some of that attention to your perspective.

2. Authority Building: If you share perspectives on things, people will see you as an expert,even if they don't agree, they respect that you have an opinion.

3. Social Proof: When you're early with a smart take, others share your content to look informed themselves.

4. Emotional Activation: Breaking news triggers strong emotions. People engage more when they're emotionally activated.

5. Two Types of Newsjacking: You can either comment directly on what's happening, or use the viral story just as your hook and then pivot to your own expertise.

Examples:

  • When a CEO's crazy work schedule goes viral → Pivot to burnout prevention if you're a wellness coach

  • When a startup raises $50M → Use it to discuss bootstrapping vs. funding if you're a business advisor

  • When a celebrity's morning routine goes viral → Discuss habit formation science if you're a productivity expert

You use what's already on people's minds to get them to stop scrolling, then redirect to your expertise.

The Two-Prompt Newsjacker 3000 System

After years of manually hunting for trending stories, I was burning hours every day just trying to find good angles.

Then I cracked the code with two AI prompts.

Now my research time went from hours to minutes. I built this into an n8n workflow for full automation, but sharing that whole setup would turn this newsletter into a technical manual.

So here are the two core prompts I use:

I run the first one in Perplexity (real-time data is clutch), for the second one I use Claude.

You can also use Grok as it’s connected to X with solid accuracy (I can’t use it because I call it via API, and Grok api lacks real time data ☹️ )

Here's how it works:

Prompt 1: The Story Hunter

Find 8-10 specific, major news stories from the last 48 hours generating significant online buzz and mainstream coverage.

Focus on these categories:

- Breaking news (natural disasters, international conflicts)
- Politics (major legislation, policy changes, elections)
- Tech/AI (product launches, AI breakthroughs, startup funding)
- Entertainment (movie releases, celebrity news, industry changes)
- Sports (championships, athlete news, major trades)
- Science/Health (medical breakthroughs, research findings)

**Search Strategy:**

Run targeted searches for:

- "breaking news" viral trending last 48 hours
- "announced today" OR "launched yesterday" tech AI product
- celebrity scandal drama viral social media last 48 hours
- startup funding "raised" "announced" last 48 hours
- controversy policy legislation last 48 hours

**Story Criteria - Each story must have:**

- Specific event from the last 48 hours
- Named people, companies, or products involved
- Clear controversy, surprise, or viral element
- Active social media discussion with hashtags/trends
- Coverage by multiple reputable news sources
- High engagement potential (shareable, debate-worthy, meme-able)

**For Each Story, Provide:**

- **Story Number:** [1-10]
- **Category:** [Breaking News/Politics/Tech/Entertainment/Sports/Science]

- **Headline:** [Specific, descriptive title]
- **Date:** [When it happened]
- **Key Players:** [People, companies, products involved]
- **Viral Element:** [What's making it trend - controversy/surprise/impact]
- **Social Buzz:** [Platforms discussing it, hashtags, engagement level]
- **News Sources:** [Major outlets covering it]
- **Why It's Hot:** [Reason for viral potential]

Exclude: TikTok challenges, memes, niche topics without broad appeal.

Priority: 

Stories with maximum controversy and/or buzz, surprise factor, or meme potential that connect to business, tech, culture, or current events.

Prompt 2: The Angle Generator (For Claude)

Once you have your trending stories, this second prompt helps you find authentic angles that align with your brand.

It will ask you questions to define your niche and unique positioning.

The more info you’ll give it, the better.


You are a viral content strategist and expert copywriter who specializes in newsjacking - taking trending topics and creating compelling content angles for creators in specific niches. 

You excel at:
- Identifying subtle connections between viral news and niche topics
- Creating contrarian takes that stand out from obvious commentary
- Writing attention-grabbing hooks that use trending topics as entry points
- Developing content angles that provide genuine value, not just trend-chasing
- Balancing viral appeal with authentic expertise

Your goal is to help creators leverage viral moments strategically while staying true to their unique positioning and providing real value to their audience.

---

I need you to help me find viral content angles for trending news stories. But first, I need to understand your unique positioning so I can give you authentic angles that actually fit your voice.

I'm going to ask you 5 quick questions, then provide personalized newsjacking angles based on your answers.

**QUESTION 1:** What's your main niche or area of expertise? (e.g., "AI entrepreneurship," "fitness for busy professionals," "personal finance," etc.)

Please answer this first question, and I'll ask the next one.

---

AFTER ALL 5 QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, USE THIS FRAMEWORK:

**TRENDING STORIES:**
[Paste the trending stories from the Story Hunter prompt here]

**FOR EACH TRENDING STORY:**

📰 **NEWS SUMMARY:**
- **What happened:** [2-3 sentences with key details]
- **Key players:** [People, companies involved]
- **Why it's trending:** [Controversy, surprise, impact]
- **Social buzz:** [Where it's discussed, hashtags]

🎯 **ANGLE 1:**
- **My Position:** [How this connects to their worldview]
- **📊 VIRAL POTENTIAL:** X/10
- **🎯 STRATEGIC DIRECTION:** [High-level content approach]
- **💡 CONTENT ANGLE:** [Specific perspective to take]
- **⚡ HOOK CONCEPT:** [Opening line approach]
- **🔥 WHY THIS HITS:** [Why it aligns with their voice]

🎯 **ANGLE 2:**
- **My Position:** [Different aspect of their viewpoint]
- **📊 VIRAL POTENTIAL:** X/10
- **🎯 STRATEGIC DIRECTION:** [Alternative approach]
- **💡 CONTENT ANGLE:** [Second perspective option]
- **⚡ HOOK CONCEPT:** [Different hook style]
- **🔥 WHY THIS HITS:** [Audience connection]

🎯 **ANGLE 3:**
- **My Position:** [Most contrarian/provocative take based on their style]
- **📊 VIRAL POTENTIAL:** X/10
- **🎯 STRATEGIC DIRECTION:** [Bold approach]
- **💡 CONTENT ANGLE:** [Most provocative angle]
- **⚡ HOOK CONCEPT:** [Attention-grabbing opener]
- **🔥 WHY THIS HITS:** [Why this feels authentic to them]

**AUTHENTICITY RULES:**
- Only suggest angles that genuinely connect to their expertise
- Match their typical controversy level and tone
- If no authentic angle exists, write "NO AUTHENTIC ANGLE"
- Focus on strategic directions, not finished content
- Use plain, direct language - no jargon

**MINIMUM OUTPUT:** 5+ news stories, each with 3 strategic angles grounded in their authentic voice.

**THE 5 QUESTIONS TO ASK ONE BY ONE:**
1. What's your main niche or area of expertise?
2. What's your unique positioning or angle within that niche?
3. How would you describe your brand voice and communication style?
4. What are your core themes - what do you typically talk about?
5. Who is your target audience?

Want This Completely Automated?

These prompts are powerful, but running them manually still takes time.

I've built the complete n8n automation that:

  • Finds trending stories automatically every morning

  • Generates personalized angles based on your niche

  • Delivers everything to your inbox ready to post

  • Helps you go viral on autopilot

  • Grows your authority and audience with minimal effort

If enough people are interested, I'll create a $19 package with:

  • Step-by-step video walkthrough

  • Complete n8n template (copy-paste ready)

Will be shipped in 48h if enough signups.

Final Thoughts: Building Your Attention Pipeline

Here's the truth about newsjacking:

It's not just about becoming an opinionated commentator.

That's only part of it.

Newsjacking is really about building an attention pipeline, using trending news to get through the first task of getting someone to stop scrolling. It can be about sharing your opinion, but it can also just be using viral stories for traffic.

There are two ways to think about it:

  1. Become the authority - Build your reputation as a commentator who people respect

  2. Use it for attention - Leverage trending topics to drive traffic to your content and business

You don't have to pick just one. The best creators do both.

It's a cheat code to win the distribution and attention game. And we all know attention is the new oil.

When you do this consistently, wild things start happening.

Last month alone:

  • A billion-dollar company CEO called asking for my take on industry trends

  • Two conference organizers reached out about speaking slots

  • A CEO job offer landed in my DMs

All because I consistently shared smart takes on breaking news or use them to attract attention to my other content.

As I'm writing this, I can feel that entrepreneurial fire burning again after becoming a father.

The first few weeks were honestly rougher than I expected. Watching my girlfriend go through recovery after birth was hard, way more intense than I thought it would be. I felt helpless seeing her struggle, and having my family fly to Berlin to support us was a lifeline I didn't know we'd need.

It was heartbreaking to see her suffer so much and I’m happy it’s changed a lot since.

Mothers are the real MVPs.

See you next week 🫡 

Ole

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P.S. Want the complete n8n automation? If enough people are interested, I'll create a $19 offer with a step-by-step video walkthrough + the full n8n template that runs this system automatically. Click here if you're interested.