Growth and Development Reporter

Date Posted	November 03, 2025
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Local News
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

The Chattanooga Times Free Press is looking for a reporter to cover growth and development.

Chattanooga is growing faster than its infrastructure can keep up. Farmland is disappearing under subdivisions; housing prices are skyrocketing; traffic and school crowding are worsening; and essential systems like water and sewer are straining under demand. Residents fear our city is becoming the next Atlanta or Nashville — defined by sprawl, long commutes and disappearing affordability. The choices leaders make now will determine whether Chattanooga becomes another overbuilt metropolis or remains a community where people can afford to live and thrive. 

We're looking for an enterprising reporter to investigate how rapid expansion affects housing, transportation, the environment and quality of life — and to spotlight innovative solutions and voices working toward sustainable growth.

We’re looking for a versatile journalist who can stay on top of daily breaking news, deliver inside scoops, spot trends, crunch data and hold the powerful to account with watchdog journalism.

This beat requires someone with a passion to tell stories in new ways across many platforms. It requires a great work ethic, a team mindset and lots of creativity. You should be able to work collaboratively across beats and disciplines. Three to five years of experience at a daily or community news outlet is preferred. 

The Times Free Press is part of a financially solid, privately owned media company with a newsroom that values mission-driven journalism and community service. The newspaper has been named the best in the state by the Tennessee Press Association for seven of the past 10 years, most recently for 2025, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize four times since 2013. 

The tri-state Chattanooga region is a phenomenal place to live. It is one of the top outdoor destinations in the country and has become a magnet for major industries over the past decade with top-notch internet. There is a thriving downtown along the Tennessee River, and the city is within a two-hour drive of Atlanta and Nashville.

Interested? Send an email outlining how you would approach this important beat to ryoung@timesfreepress.com. Include work samples, and attach a resume including references. Please include "growth reporter" in the email subject line to make sure your application lands in the right place.