General Assignment Reporter Chattanooga Times Free Press - 3.4 Chattanooga, TN Job Details Full-time 2 hours ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Flexible spending account Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Vision insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Life insurance Qualifications Photography AP style Cold calling Content editing Driver's License Journalistic writing Web writing Media editing tools Full Job Description The Chattanooga Times Free Press is seeking a dynamic, agile, and news-savvy General Assignment Reporter to join our team in covering the Greater Chattanooga area. As a General Assignment Reporter, you won't be boxed into a single beat. One day you might cover Hamilton County politics or East Ridge city hall developments, the next you could break a story on downtown economic growth, dive into local public school board decisions, or report live on breaking news. We need a versatile journalist who possesses exceptional news judgment—someone who knows when to dig into a press release, when to pitch an original enterprise piece, and when to drop everything to jump on a breaking story.

Key Responsibilities Multi-Beat Coverage:

Aggressively report across a variety of beats, including local government, education (Hamilton County Schools & higher ed), local business, housing/development, and general community news.

Enterprise & Pitching:

Generate original story ideas daily through deep source building, public record digging, and active community engagement rather than relying solely on press releases.

Breaking News Execution:

Move quickly to gather facts, confirm details, and report accurately during breaking news events across digital, mobile, and print/broadcast channels.

Digital-First Storytelling:

Write clear, engaging, and AP Style-compliant copy optimized for web and social platforms.

Public Records & Data:

Utilize Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Tennessee Open Records requests, public databases, and financial reports to add depth to reporting.

Community Presence:

Build a trusted network of sources across diverse demographics and neighborhoods throughout Hamilton, Marion, and Bradley counties, as well as North Georgia border communities.

Required Qualifications & Experience Experience:

1-3 years of professional reporting experience at a local daily newspaper, digital news site, radio/TV station, or high-impact regional media outlet.

Beat Versatility:

Demonstrated ability to juggle multiple distinct story types simultaneously (e.g., hard news, business profile, educational policy).

News Judgment:

Sharp instinct for news value—knowing which stories impact readers' daily lives versus what can wait.

Writing & Editing:

Flawless AP Style writing under tight deadline pressure.

Multimedia Skills:

Familiarity with photography, basic video capture, and social media tools for field reporting.

Location Knowledge:

Broad familiarity with (or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn) the political, economic, and social landscape of Greater Chattanooga and East Tennessee.

Requirements:

Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation required for field work.

Key Competencies Adaptability:

Able to switch gears instantly when news breaks without sacrificing accuracy.

Source Building:

Comfort in cold-calling sources, attending community events off-the-clock, and engaging directly with residents.

Critical Thinking:

Ability to synthesize complex budgets, public policy decisions, or legal disputes into engaging, accessible prose for the public. Chattanooga Times Free Press is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Chattanooga, TN 37402