---
title: "Configure the Job function"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/newsapp/python/configure-job-function/
description: "Build a news web app that fetches news from a third-party service periodically using Catalyst Cron, and a Job Function and Advanced I/O function in Python."
last_updated: 2026-11-04T10:10:44Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Job Scheduling"
    url: /en/job-scheduling/getting-started/introduction/
  - name: "Job Functions"
    url: /en/serverless/help/functions/job-functions/
---

# Configure the Job Function

Next, we'll begin coding the news application by configuring the job function component.

The function's directory, in this case `functions/NewsApp`, contains:

* The `main.py` main function file
* The `catalyst-config.json` configuration file
* [requirements.txt](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/functions-directory/#python-modules-and-function-dependencies) file

We will be adding code in the `main.py` file. You will not be modifying the code of the configuration and dependency files.

As mentioned in the [introduction](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/newsapp/java/introduction/), the job function performs two tasks: making the API calls to the [NewsAPI](https://newsapi.org/) to fetch news, populating the news in Catalyst Data Store. The API calls are made using an API key provided by NewsAPI. 

### Register with NewsAPI

Before you code the job function, you must register for a free developer subscription with NewsAPI and obtain the API key in the following way:

1. Visit [https<span></span>://newsapi.org/register](https://newsapi.org/register).

2. Provide the required details and click **Submit**.
![register-api-key](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/register-api-key.webp)
After your registration is complete, NewsAPI will provide you with an API key. You must use this in your cron function, as instructed after the code section.
![api-key](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/api-key.webp)

### Add Function Code

You can copy the code below and paste it in `main.py` located in the `functions/NewsApp` directory of your project and save the file. You can use any IDE to work with the application's files. 

> **Note**: Please go through the code given in this section to make sure you fully understand it.

**main.py**

```python
import logging
import zcatalyst_sdk
import requests
logger = logging.getLogger()
def handler(job_request, context):
    logger.info("Fetching news!")
    # The names of the tables in the Data Store where the news items need to be stored
    table_name = ["HEADLINES", "BUSINESS", "ENTERTAINMENT", "HEALTH", "SCIENCE", "SPORTS", "TECHNOLOGY"]
    country = "US" #Fetches the news items from the United States of America
    api_key = "cc30ddcaxxxxxxxxxx" # Provide the API key you obtained from NewsAPI inside the quotations
    fetch_url = "https://newsapi.org/v2/top-headlines"
    #Fetches the breaking news of different categories with their headlines
    for category in table_name:
        # Constructing required to fetch news
        params = {
            'country':country,
            'apiKey':api_key,
        }
        if category != "HEADLINES":
            params['category'] = category
        # Makes an API call to the News API to fetch the data
        response = requests.get(fetch_url, params=params)
        # If the response is 200, the data is moved to the Data Store. If not, the error is logged.
        if response.status_code == 200:
            data = response.json()
            try:
                if 'articles' in data:
                    array_data = data['articles'][:15]
                    logger.info("15 days "+str(array_data))
                    # This method inserts/updates the news in the Data Store
                    push_to_datastore(array_data,category)
            except requests.RequestException as e:
                logger.error("Request failed: "+ str(e))
                context.close_with_failure() # end of application with failure
            # The actions are logged. You can check the logs from Catalyst Logs.
            logger.info("New updated")
        else:
            logger.error("Request failed with status :: ",response.status_code)
            context.close_with_failure() # end of application with failure
            context.close_with_success() # end of application with success
def push_to_datastore(sliced_data,tableName):
    app = zcatalyst_sdk.initialize()
    zcql_service = app.zcql()
    datastore_service = app.datastore()
    #Defines the ZCQL query that will be used to find out the number of rows in a table
    query = "select ROWID from "+tableName
    zcql_result = zcql_service.execute_query(query)
    table_instance = datastore_service.table(tableName)
    #Inserts / Update the data obtained from the API into datastore
    for i in range(0,14):
        title = sliced_data[i]['title']
        url = sliced_data[i]['url']
        if len(zcql_result) == 0:
            # inserting new row
            row_data= {'title':title,'url':url}
            table_instance.insert_row(row_data)
            logger.info("Row inserted "+ str(row_data))
        else:
            # updating row
            row_data= {'title':title,'url':url,'ROWID':zcql_result[i][tableName]['ROWID']}
            table_instance.update_row(row_data)
            logger.info("Row inserted "+ str(row_data))

```

> **Note**: After you copy and paste this code in your function file, ensure that you replace value of `APIKEY` in the line **12** with the API key you obtained from NewsAPI.

The job function is now configured. We will discuss the application's architecture after we configure the client.