newsjack-scoring

Score the story on four weighted signals: Relevance (35%), Urgency (25%), Viral Potential (25%), and First-Mover Advantage (15%). A score above 60 means post within 30 minutes, 40-60 means schedule a considered take, and below 40 means ignore it.

Use the formula (0.35 x Relevance) + (0.25 x Urgency) + (0.25 x Viral Potential) + (0.15 x First Mover), each scored 0-100. This weights audience relevance most heavily while still accounting for timing and shareability.

Breaking platform changes, major label exits, viral controversies, industry reports, product launches, and tool updates work best. The story must sit inside your audience's core interest graph, such as genre, tools, platform policies, or regulatory shifts.

Critical stories like breaking platform changes have a 0-2 hour window, while high-urgency stories like product launches allow 2-24 hours. If top search results on X are more than 4 hours old, the first-mover window is closing.

Skip stories scoring below 40, stories outside your audience's interest graph where you cannot find a bridge angle, and stories already saturated with coverage. Low-signal reactions dilute your positioning without gaining reach.