diff --git a/blog.py b/blog.py
index 606fc923..96d52a1f 100644
--- a/blog.py
+++ b/blog.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from utils import getNicknameFromActor
 from utils import getDomainFromActor
 from utils import locatePost
 from utils import loadJson
-from utils import firstParagraph
+from utils import firstParagraphFromString
 from posts import createBlogsTimeline
 from newswire import rss2Header
 from newswire import rss2Footer
@@ -313,7 +313,8 @@ def htmlBlogPostRSS2(authorized: bool,
                 pubDate = datetime.strptime(published, "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
                 titleStr = postJsonObject['object']['summary']
                 rssDateStr = pubDate.strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S UT")
-                description = firstParagraph(postJsonObject)
+                content = postJsonObject['object']['content']
+                description = firstParagraphFromString(content)
                 rssStr = '     <item>'
                 rssStr += '         <title>' + titleStr + '</title>'
                 rssStr += '         <link>' + messageLink + '</link>'
@@ -343,7 +344,8 @@ def htmlBlogPostRSS3(authorized: bool,
                 pubDate = datetime.strptime(published, "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
                 titleStr = postJsonObject['object']['summary']
                 rssDateStr = pubDate.strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S UT")
-                description = firstParagraph(postJsonObject)
+                content = postJsonObject['object']['content']
+                description = firstParagraphFromString(content)
                 rssStr = 'title: ' + titleStr + '\n'
                 rssStr += 'link: ' + messageLink + '\n'
                 rssStr += 'description: ' + description + '\n'
diff --git a/newswire.py b/newswire.py
index e738fef4..4fca15a7 100644
--- a/newswire.py
+++ b/newswire.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from socket import error as SocketError
 import errno
 from datetime import datetime
 from collections import OrderedDict
-from utils import firstParagraph
+from utils import firstParagraphFromString
 from utils import isPublicPost
 from utils import locatePost
 from utils import loadJson
@@ -387,6 +387,8 @@ def getRSSfromDict(baseDir: str, newswire: {},
             continue
         rssStr += '<item>\n'
         rssStr += '  <title>' + fields[0] + '</title>\n'
+        description = firstParagraphFromString(fields[4])
+        rssStr += '  <description>' + description + '</description>\n'
         url = fields[1]
         if domainFull not in url:
             url = httpPrefix + '://' + domainFull + url
@@ -502,7 +504,8 @@ def addAccountBlogsToNewswire(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                     votes = []
                     if os.path.isfile(fullPostFilename + '.votes'):
                         votes = loadJson(fullPostFilename + '.votes')
-                    description = firstParagraph(postJsonObject)
+                    content = postJsonObject['object']['content']
+                    description = firstParagraphFromString(content)
                     addNewswireDictEntry(baseDir, domain,
                                          newswire, published,
                                          postJsonObject['object']['summary'],
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 6640e1dd..11d00aa0 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -19,11 +19,10 @@ from calendar import monthrange
 from followingCalendar import addPersonToCalendar
 
 
-def firstParagraph(postJsonObject: {}) -> str:
+def firstParagraphFromString(content: str) -> str:
     """Get the first paragraph from a blog post
     to be used as a summary in the newswire feed
     """
-    content = postJsonObject['object']['content']
     if '<p>' not in content or '</p>' not in content:
         return removeHtml(content)
     paragraph = content.split('<p>')[1]