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Newsletter Edition — Live Write

Growth & Marketing

What it tests

Editorial voice, speed under deadline pressure, ability to make complex or dry topics genuinely engaging for a specific audience

Format

  1. 1Candidate receives three real news items (industry-relevant headlines with source links) and a 60-minute countdown
  2. 2They write one complete newsletter edition: intro hook, three story summaries (100-150 words each) with editorial commentary, and a sign-off
  3. 3Target format and word count are provided; audience persona is specified (e.g., 'busy operators at Series A-B startups')
  4. 4No editing after submission — first draft is evaluated as-is

What to look for

  • Does the hook earn attention in the first two sentences, or does it wind up slowly?
  • Is editorial commentary additive (insight, context, implication) or just a story retelling?
  • Does the voice stay consistent across all three stories, or does it drift?
  • Is the writing tight under time pressure, or bloated with filler phrases?

Adaptation guide

Use three real articles from your industry published in the past 48 hours. Time-boxing is essential — this tests performance under actual editorial conditions, not polished portfolio work.

Full description

Format:

  1. Candidate receives three real news items (industry-relevant headlines with source links) and a 60-minute countdown
  2. They write one complete newsletter edition: intro hook, three story summaries (100-150 words each) with editorial commentary, and a sign-off
  3. Target format and word count are provided; audience persona is specified (e.g., "busy operators at Series A-B startups")
  4. No editing after submission — first draft is evaluated as-is

Time: 60 minutes

What to look for:

  • Does the hook earn attention in the first two sentences, or does it wind up slowly?
  • Is editorial commentary additive (insight, context, implication) or just a story retelling?
  • Does the voice stay consistent across all three stories, or does it drift?
  • Is the writing tight under time pressure, or bloated with filler phrases?

Adaptation: Use three real articles from your industry published in the past 48 hours. Time-boxing is essential — this tests performance under actual editorial conditions, not polished portfolio work.