diff --git a/src/base.py b/src/base.py
index 0ee1784..5e69848 100644
--- a/src/base.py
+++ b/src/base.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ class DocumentMetadata(BaseModel):
     category: str
     source: str
     type: str
-    sectors: Sequence[str]
+    # TODO: remove default value for sectors once they are in the pipeline
+    sectors: Sequence[str] = []
 
     @root_validator
     def convert_publication_ts_to_date(cls, values):