diff --git a/lib/frenzy/item.ex b/lib/frenzy/item.ex
index c43c27b..bfc6a35 100644
--- a/lib/frenzy/item.ex
+++ b/lib/frenzy/item.ex
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ defmodule Frenzy.Item do
   end
 
   schema "items" do
-    field :content, :string
+    field :content, :string, default: ""
     field :content_type, :string
     field :date, :utc_datetime
     field :creator, :string
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ defmodule Frenzy.Item do
       :tombstone,
       :feed_id
     ])
-    |> validate_required([:guid, :url, :date, :content, :feed_id])
+    |> validate_required([:guid, :url, :date, :feed_id])
     |> unique_constraint([:feed_id, :guid], name: :items_feed_guid_index)
   end