A Reporter investigates and reports on news events and stories. Gathers information from interviews, site visits and background research, and writes reports for news and media outlets. May edit news stories or write news commentary. Covers a particular territory or specializes in a topic such as politics, sports, on an industry. Works for a news service or media company, or works freelance and takes assignments from news organizations.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press is seeking an ambitious, highly creative, and analytically minded Data Journalist to lead a new daily publication initiative. This role is responsible for transforming complex datasets into high-impact, visual, and highly accessible journalism that illuminates the economic, social, cultural, and eccentric dynamics of Hamilton County and the greater Chattanooga region. The ideal candidate operates at the intersection of quantitative analysis, investigative reporting, graphic design, and storytelling; producing seven data features per week that engage, inform, and delight our readers.
The Editorial Model:
"Graphic Detail" Workflow Inspired by The Economist 's data journalism model, this role utilizes a dynamic two-stage publishing framework: The Teaser & Table (Front-of-Issue / Top-of-Feed): A prominent, bite-sized ranking table, callout graphic, or chart highlighting key findings early in the edition or at the top of digital feeds. The Analytical Narrative (Deep Dive): A dedicated, full-length article published deeper in the paper or featured on the digital site that contextualizes the data, explains the methodology, and features primary interview sourcing.
Key Responsibilities Daily Data Reporting:
Pitch, research, analyze, and write 7 original data-driven articles per week focusing on local community metrics.
Data Visualization & Mapping:
Design publish-ready vector graphics, interactive charts, infographic summary cards, and GIS maps (choropleth, heat maps, route maps) for print and digital.
Curate & Scrape Datasets:
File FOIA/public record requests, scrape municipal/state databases, curate proprietary local datasets, and clean raw data using SQL, Python, or R.
Community Pulse Tracking:
Monitor local economic trends, housing developments, tourism metrics, traffic patterns, and quirky community phenomena.
Collaborative Reporting:
Partner with beat reporters (business, local government, arts & culture) to augment major breaking news with data visual callouts.
Sample Daily Coverage Topics:
Business & Finance Top 25 Most Valuable Companies & Major Employers in the Chattanooga Region Evaluating corporate footprints, post-expansion revenue growth, and wage shifts. Real Estate & Wealth Wealthiest Zip Codes & Fastest-Growing Neighborhoods by Square Footage Cost Property tax distribution, shifting demographics, and housing affordability dynamics. Entertainment Top Concerts & Live Shows by Attendance & Gross Ticket Sales Venue capacity comparisons, touring economy impacts, and genre popularity in the Scenic City. Tourism & Hospitality Major Events Generating the Highest Hotel Room-Night Volumes Economic ripple effects of events like Riverbend, Ironman, conventions, and sports tournaments. Civic & Quirky Chattanooga's Steepest Streets, Highest Coffee Consumption Zip Codes, or Bottlenecks Unpacking hyper-local daily life metrics through creative, non-traditional data gathering.
Candidate Qualifications & Requirements Technical & Visualization Skills Data Visualization:
Hands-on experience with Data wrapper, Flourish, Tableau, or D3.js.
GIS Mapping:
Proficiency with mapping software such as QGIS, ArcGIS, or Map box.
Data Wrangling:
Competency in Excel, Python (Pandas/BeautifulSoup), R, or SQL for cleaning and scraping messy datasets.
Design Polish:
Working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Figma to format graphics for print and web formats.
2+ years of journalism, newsroom data reporting, or research-heavy publishing experience.
Speed & Discipline:
Proven ability to manage a daily publishing cadence and deliver accurate graphics on tight deadlines.
Public Records Expertise:
Familiarity with census data, property records, municipal financial reports, and FOIA/open records laws.
Accuracy:
Meticulous attention to statistical accuracy, source attribution, and ethical data representation. The Chattanooga Times Free Press is an equal opportunity employer. This position is open to candidates located within driving distance to Chattanooga, TN and will require occasional in-office work.
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid parental leave Paid time off Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance
