diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2485268..8c83043 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Clone this repository, or open the directory of the example you want. Each examp
 - [in-app-video-creation](examples/in-app-video-creation) lets a user create the same promo video three ways: an embedded Studio SDK editor, a quick form, and a one-click headless render, all through one render proxy that keeps the API key server-side. Companion code for [Add video creation to your app without building an editor](https://shotstack.io/learn/add-video-creation-to-your-app/).
 - [instagram-ai-video](examples/instagram-ai-video) generates a script, voiceover and background image with AI, renders a 1080x1920 video, and publishes it as an Instagram Reel. Companion code for [How to automate Instagram posts with AI video](https://shotstack.io/learn/automate-instagram-posts-with-ai-video/).
 - [multi-client-video-automation](examples/multi-client-video-automation) renders branded promo videos for three clients in three aspect ratios from one master template, and records which render belongs to which client. Companion code for [A guide to automating video content production for multiple clients](https://shotstack.io/learn/automating-video-production-multiple-clients/).
+- [news-article-videos](examples/news-article-videos) renders one vertical video per article from one fixed template: a headline and two images filled in with merge fields. The finished video URL is written back onto the article, so a rerun only renders new stories.
 - [rapidreels](examples/rapidreels) creates faceless short-form videos using generative AI. [View demo](https://shotstack.io/demos/social-media-video-maker/).
 - [reelestate](examples/reelestate) turns static real estate images into fully edited video slideshows. [View demo](https://shotstack.io/demos/real-estate-video-listing-maker/).
 
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/.env.example b/examples/news-article-videos/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c818b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Your Shotstack sandbox API key: https://dashboard.shotstack.io/register
+SHOTSTACK_API_KEY=
+
+# Optional. stage (sandbox, default) or v1 (production). Use the key from the same environment.
+# Both keys are in the dashboard under API Keys: https://dashboard.shotstack.io/
+SHOTSTACK_ENV=
+
+# Optional. An HTTPS URL on your server. Shotstack posts to it when each render finishes.
+# https://shotstack.io/docs/guide/architecting-an-application/webhooks/
+CALLBACK_URL=
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/.gitignore b/examples/news-article-videos/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09c29c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+.env
+renders.jsonl
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/README.md b/examples/news-article-videos/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0154a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# News article videos
+
+Render one vertical video for each article a newsroom publishes. Each article record has a
+headline and two images. One template holds the design. The script fills the template with merge
+fields and submits one render per article. When a render finishes, the script writes the video URL
+back onto the article, so a rerun only renders new stories. You get one 24 second 1080 x 1920 MP4
+per article.
+
+## Requirements
+
+- A [Shotstack account](https://dashboard.shotstack.io/register) and your **sandbox** API key
+- Node.js 20 or later
+
+Sandbox renders are watermarked. Your account needs at least one credit to use the sandbox.
+
+## Setup
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/shotstack/shotstack-cookbook.git
+cd shotstack-cookbook/examples/news-article-videos
+```
+
+Copy the environment file. Add your sandbox key to `.env`.
+
+```bash
+cp .env.example .env
+```
+
+Load the file into your shell. Do this in each new terminal:
+
+```bash
+set -a
+source .env
+set +a
+```
+
+## Run
+
+Submit one render per article:
+
+```bash
+node render.mjs
+```
+
+Then check them:
+
+```bash
+node status.mjs
+```
+
+Run `status.mjs` again until each render shows `done`.
+
+## What happens
+
+`render.mjs` reads `edit.json` once and `articles.json` once. It checks that each article has a
+slug, a headline and two HTTPS image URLs. It reports every problem it finds, then stops. It skips
+articles that already have a `videoUrl`. For each remaining article it adds a `merge` array to the
+template and submits one render. The first image shows for 12 seconds with a slow zoom. The second
+image fades in for the next 12 seconds. The headline rises in over a dark panel at the bottom. A
+music track plays under the whole video. The script appends one line per render to
+`renders.jsonl` and ends with the count of submitted renders.
+
+`status.mjs` reads `renders.jsonl` and checks each render once. A `done` render prints its video
+URL. The script then writes each finished URL into `articles.json` as `videoUrl`. In production,
+read the articles from your CMS and write the URL back through its API. A sandbox URL expires
+after 24 hours.
+
+To receive a webhook instead of polling, set `CALLBACK_URL` in `.env` to an HTTPS URL on your
+server. Shotstack posts to it when each render finishes.
+
+To render your own stories, replace the records in `articles.json`. Image URLs must be public
+HTTPS URLs. To change the design, edit `edit.json` and keep the `{{PLACEHOLDER}}` tokens.
+
+`renders.jsonl` only appends. To start a new batch, delete the file and remove the `videoUrl`
+fields from `articles.json`.
+
+To render in production, set `SHOTSTACK_ENV=v1` and put your production key in `.env`.
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/api.mjs b/examples/news-article-videos/api.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..45a44bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/api.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+const API_KEY = process.env.SHOTSTACK_API_KEY;
+const ENV = process.env.SHOTSTACK_ENV || 'stage';
+const API = `https://api.shotstack.io/edit/${ENV}`;
+const TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
+
+export function fail(message) {
+  console.error(message);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
+export function requireConfig() {
+  if (!API_KEY) {
+    fail('Set SHOTSTACK_API_KEY before you run this script.');
+  }
+
+  if (!['stage', 'v1'].includes(ENV)) {
+    fail('SHOTSTACK_ENV must be stage or v1.');
+  }
+}
+
+// A rejected key or a dead network fails every record the same way. The
+// caller stops the batch at the first one instead of printing a line per record.
+function stopBatch(message) {
+  return Object.assign(new Error(message), { fatal: true });
+}
+
+async function apiError(response) {
+  const text = await response.text();
+
+  try {
+    const body = JSON.parse(text);
+    return (
+      body.errors?.[0]?.detail ?? body.response?.error ?? body.message ?? text
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return text;
+  }
+}
+
+async function request(path, options, label) {
+  let response;
+
+  try {
+    response = await fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
+      ...options,
+      headers: {
+        Accept: 'application/json',
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'x-api-key': API_KEY
+      },
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(TIMEOUT_MS)
+    });
+  } catch {
+    throw stopBatch(
+      `${label}: the network request failed. Check your connection and run again.`
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (response.status === 401 || response.status === 403) {
+    throw stopBatch(
+      `${label}: the API rejected the key (${response.status}). Check SHOTSTACK_API_KEY and SHOTSTACK_ENV.`
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    throw new Error(`${label}: ${response.status} ${await apiError(response)}`);
+  }
+
+  return (await response.json()).response;
+}
+
+export async function submitRender(edit, label) {
+  const { id } = await request(
+    '/render',
+    { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(edit) },
+    label
+  );
+
+  if (!id) {
+    throw new Error(`${label}: the render response did not contain an id.`);
+  }
+
+  return id;
+}
+
+export function getRender(renderId, label) {
+  return request(`/render/${renderId}`, { method: 'GET' }, label);
+}
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/articles.json b/examples/news-article-videos/articles.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..784969f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/articles.json
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+[
+  {
+    "slug": "harbour-beaches-closed",
+    "headline": "Big swell closes harbour beaches for the weekend",
+    "images": [
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/wave-barrel.jpg",
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/slideshow2.jpeg"
+    ],
+    "videoUrl": "https://shotstack-api-stage-output.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/m0018rioc2/8e0a34d4-cb39-434f-b723-d44a50f7365a.mp4"
+  },
+  {
+    "slug": "mountain-road-reopens",
+    "headline": "Mountain road reopens six weeks after the landslide",
+    "images": [
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/slideshow7.jpeg",
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/slideshow4.jpeg"
+    ],
+    "videoUrl": "https://shotstack-api-stage-output.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/m0018rioc2/7bc220e2-db31-43f8-b403-d4e5995a9cf5.mp4"
+  },
+  {
+    "slug": "rates-fall-again",
+    "headline": "Home loan rates fall for the third month in a row",
+    "images": [
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/financial-background.jpg",
+      "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/business-man.jpg"
+    ],
+    "videoUrl": "https://shotstack-api-stage-output.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/m0018rioc2/0f30a9ca-22b0-48dd-b928-a443ee70cdec.mp4"
+  }
+]
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/edit.json b/examples/news-article-videos/edit.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ea93a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/edit.json
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+{
+  "timeline": {
+    "background": "#000000",
+    "fonts": [
+      {
+        "src": "https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/montserrat/v31/JTUSjIg1_i6t8kCHKm45xW5rygbi49c.ttf"
+      }
+    ],
+    "tracks": [
+      {
+        "clips": [
+          {
+            "asset": {
+              "type": "rich-text",
+              "text": "{{HEADLINE}}",
+              "font": {
+                "family": "JTUSjIg1_i6t8kCHKm45xW5rygbi49c",
+                "size": 72,
+                "weight": "800",
+                "color": "#ffffff"
+              },
+              "style": { "lineHeight": 1.1 },
+              "background": {
+                "color": "#0b0f1a",
+                "opacity": 0.82,
+                "borderRadius": 24
+              },
+              "padding": { "top": 36, "right": 44, "bottom": 44, "left": 44 },
+              "align": { "horizontal": "left", "vertical": "middle" },
+              "animation": {
+                "preset": "ascend",
+                "duration": 0.6,
+                "direction": "up"
+              }
+            },
+            "start": 0.5,
+            "length": 23.5,
+            "width": 960,
+            "height": 420,
+            "position": "bottom",
+            "offset": { "y": 0.08 }
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "clips": [
+          {
+            "asset": { "type": "image", "src": "{{IMAGE_1}}" },
+            "start": 0,
+            "length": 12,
+            "fit": "crop",
+            "effect": "zoomInSlow"
+          },
+          {
+            "asset": { "type": "image", "src": "{{IMAGE_2}}" },
+            "start": 12,
+            "length": 12,
+            "fit": "crop",
+            "effect": "slideUpSlow",
+            "transition": { "in": "fade" }
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "clips": [
+          {
+            "asset": {
+              "type": "audio",
+              "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/music/unminus/berlin.mp3",
+              "volume": 0.3,
+              "effect": "fadeOut"
+            },
+            "start": 0,
+            "length": "end"
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "output": { "format": "mp4", "size": { "width": 1080, "height": 1920 } }
+}
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/render.mjs b/examples/news-article-videos/render.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df6c4e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/render.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+import { readFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { fail, requireConfig, submitRender } from './api.mjs';
+import { recordRender } from './renders.mjs';
+
+const REQUIRED_FIELDS = ['slug', 'headline'];
+
+requireConfig();
+
+const callback = process.env.CALLBACK_URL;
+
+if (callback && !/^https:\/\//.test(callback)) {
+  fail('CALLBACK_URL must be an HTTPS URL.');
+}
+
+async function readJson(name) {
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(await readFile(new URL(name, import.meta.url), 'utf8'));
+  } catch (error) {
+    fail(`Could not read ${name}: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+}
+
+const template = await readJson('./edit.json');
+const articles = await readJson('./articles.json');
+
+if (!Array.isArray(articles) || articles.length === 0) {
+  fail('articles.json must contain an array with at least one article.');
+}
+
+const problems = [];
+
+articles.forEach((article, index) => {
+  const label = article.slug ?? `article ${index + 1}`;
+
+  for (const field of REQUIRED_FIELDS) {
+    if (!article[field]) {
+      problems.push(`${label}: ${field} is required.`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (
+    !Array.isArray(article.images) ||
+    article.images.length !== 2 ||
+    !article.images.every(url => /^https:\/\//.test(url))
+  ) {
+    problems.push(`${label}: images must list two HTTPS URLs.`);
+  }
+});
+
+if (problems.length > 0) {
+  fail(problems.join('\n'));
+}
+
+// An article that already has a video URL was rendered on an earlier run.
+// status.mjs writes that URL back, so a rerun only renders new stories.
+const pending = articles.filter(article => !article.videoUrl);
+
+if (pending.length === 0) {
+  console.log('Every article already has a video URL. Nothing to render.');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+// The template is fixed. Only the merge values change per article, so the
+// same edit.json renders every story the newsroom publishes. Every
+// placeholder in the template is a string, so every replace value is a string.
+function editFor(article) {
+  const edit = {
+    ...template,
+    merge: [
+      { find: 'HEADLINE', replace: String(article.headline) },
+      { find: 'IMAGE_1', replace: String(article.images[0]) },
+      { find: 'IMAGE_2', replace: String(article.images[1]) }
+    ]
+  };
+
+  if (callback) {
+    edit.callback = callback;
+  }
+
+  return edit;
+}
+
+let submitted = 0;
+
+for (const article of pending) {
+  try {
+    const renderId = await submitRender(editFor(article), article.slug);
+
+    await recordRender({
+      renderId,
+      slug: article.slug,
+      submittedAt: new Date().toISOString()
+    });
+
+    console.log(`${article.slug} → ${renderId}`);
+    submitted += 1;
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.fatal) {
+      fail(error.message);
+    }
+
+    console.error(error.message);
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+  }
+}
+
+console.log(
+  `${submitted}/${pending.length} submitted, ${articles.length - pending.length} already had a video URL`
+);
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/renders.mjs b/examples/news-article-videos/renders.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6debacb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/renders.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { appendFile, readFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+
+const FILE = new URL('./renders.jsonl', import.meta.url);
+
+// One JSON object per line, appended. The API has no endpoint that lists
+// renders, so this file is the only record of which render belongs to
+// which record.
+export async function recordRender(row) {
+  try {
+    await appendFile(FILE, JSON.stringify(row) + '\n');
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new Error(`Could not write renders.jsonl: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+}
+
+export async function readRenders() {
+  let text;
+
+  try {
+    text = await readFile(FILE, 'utf8');
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.code === 'ENOENT') {
+      return [];
+    }
+    throw new Error(`Could not read renders.jsonl: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
+  return text
+    .split('\n')
+    .filter(line => line.trim())
+    .map((line, index) => {
+      try {
+        return JSON.parse(line);
+      } catch {
+        throw new Error(
+          `renders.jsonl line ${index + 1} is not valid JSON. Fix or delete the file and submit again.`
+        );
+      }
+    });
+}
diff --git a/examples/news-article-videos/status.mjs b/examples/news-article-videos/status.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64bf891
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/news-article-videos/status.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { readFile, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { fail, getRender, requireConfig } from './api.mjs';
+import { readRenders } from './renders.mjs';
+
+requireConfig();
+
+let rows;
+
+try {
+  rows = await readRenders();
+} catch (error) {
+  fail(error.message);
+}
+
+if (rows.length === 0) {
+  console.log('No renders recorded yet. Run node render.mjs first.');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const finished = new Map();
+
+for (const row of rows) {
+  let render;
+
+  try {
+    render = await getRender(row.renderId, row.slug);
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.fatal) {
+      fail(error.message);
+    }
+
+    console.error(error.message);
+    process.exitCode = 1;
+    continue;
+  }
+
+  console.log(`${row.slug} → ${render.status}`);
+
+  if (render.status === 'done') {
+    console.log(`  ${render.url}`);
+    finished.set(row.slug, render.url);
+  }
+
+  if (render.status === 'failed') {
+    console.log(`  error: ${render.error}`);
+  }
+}
+
+// Close the loop: put each finished video URL back on its article, the way a
+// newsroom would write it back to the CMS. render.mjs skips these next time.
+const ARTICLES = new URL('./articles.json', import.meta.url);
+let articles;
+
+try {
+  articles = JSON.parse(await readFile(ARTICLES, 'utf8'));
+} catch (error) {
+  fail(`Could not read articles.json: ${error.message}`);
+}
+
+let written = 0;
+
+for (const article of articles) {
+  if (finished.has(article.slug) && !article.videoUrl) {
+    article.videoUrl = finished.get(article.slug);
+    written += 1;
+  }
+}
+
+if (written > 0) {
+  try {
+    await writeFile(ARTICLES, `${JSON.stringify(articles, null, 2)}\n`);
+  } catch (error) {
+    fail(`Could not write articles.json: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Wrote ${written} video URL(s) into articles.json`);
+}