diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e15d62c..7ea9ab6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -104,6 +104,36 @@ docker run -p 8000:8000 -v /srv/goodnews/data:/data goodnews
 `GOODNEWS_DB` controls the database path (defaults to `data/goodnews.sqlite3`).
 Put a reverse proxy (Caddy/nginx) in front for TLS once a domain is attached.
 
+## Scheduling
+
+A single idempotent command runs the whole pipeline and is safe to invoke as
+often as you like — it only polls sources that are *due* (per each source's
+`poll_interval_minutes`), only classifies articles the model hasn't seen, and
+rebuilds the current day's brief:
+
+```bash
+python3 -m goodnews cycle                 # poll due -> classify new -> rebuild today's brief
+python3 -m goodnews cycle --force         # poll every active source regardless of interval
+python3 -m goodnews cycle --no-classify   # skip the LLM step (e.g. model box offline)
+```
+
+A systemd timer runs it every 15 minutes. Unit files live in `deploy/`:
+
+```bash
+sudo install -d /etc/goodnews
+sudo install -m 644 deploy/goodnews.env.example /etc/goodnews/goodnews.env  # then edit
+sudo install -m 644 deploy/goodnews.service deploy/goodnews.timer /etc/systemd/system/
+sudo systemctl daemon-reload
+sudo systemctl enable --now goodnews.timer
+
+systemctl list-timers goodnews.timer          # when it next runs
+journalctl -u goodnews.service -f             # watch cycle output
+```
+
+`/etc/goodnews/goodnews.env` supplies `GOODNEWS_LLM_BASE_URL`, `GOODNEWS_LLM_MODEL`,
+and `GOODNEWS_DB` to the scheduled run. The timer uses `Persistent=true`, so a
+run missed while the machine was off is caught up on the next boot.
+
 ## Next Steps
 
 1. Run the poller for a few days and inspect which sources produce useful candidates.
diff --git a/deploy/goodnews.env.example b/deploy/goodnews.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0c0027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/goodnews.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Copy to /etc/goodnews/goodnews.env and adjust. Read by goodnews.service.
+# These let the scheduled cycle reach the local model and the shared database.
+
+GOODNEWS_LLM_BASE_URL=http://192.168.50.100:1234/v1
+GOODNEWS_LLM_MODEL=qwen/qwen3-14b
+GOODNEWS_DB=/home/jay/goodNews/data/goodnews.sqlite3
diff --git a/deploy/goodnews.service b/deploy/goodnews.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d3daf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/goodnews.service
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=goodNews ingestion cycle (poll due sources, classify, rebuild brief)
+After=network-online.target
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+User=jay
+Group=jay
+WorkingDirectory=/home/jay/goodNews
+# Optional config (LLM endpoint, DB path). The leading '-' makes it non-fatal
+# if the file is absent.
+EnvironmentFile=-/etc/goodnews/goodnews.env
+ExecStart=/home/jay/goodNews/.venv/bin/python -m goodnews cycle
+# A cycle may classify dozens of articles through a local model; give it room
+# so systemd does not kill a long run (oneshot defaults to 90s).
+TimeoutStartSec=1200
+Nice=10
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/deploy/goodnews.timer b/deploy/goodnews.timer
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8a7e9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/goodnews.timer
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Run the goodNews ingestion cycle periodically
+
+[Timer]
+# First run shortly after boot, then every 15 minutes. Per-source
+# poll_interval_minutes still governs which feeds are actually hit each tick.
+OnBootSec=2min
+OnUnitActiveSec=15min
+# Catch up a missed run if the machine was off when one was due.
+Persistent=true
+AccuracySec=1min
+Unit=goodnews.service
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=timers.target