Inside Craig Fuller’s overhaul of the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Craig Fuller’s overhaul of the Chattanooga Times Free Press has brought deep staffing changes, a lower-priced digital subscription and expanded use of artificial intelligence, Columbia Journalism Review reports. Fuller and his father, Max, acquired the paper July 31. CJR reports that previous owner WEHCO laid off about 50 employees during the sale and Fuller cut another 13 positions in August; after departures and hiring, the paper has 57 employees, down from 128.

Fuller told CJR that the business is performing ahead of his projections and that he plans to hire more journalists. Former employees describe losses in reporting capacity and concerns about his management. The report also examines AI-assisted columns and editing, including a policy against reporters disclosing AI use. Fuller’s financial claims are presented alongside the newsroom’s concerns, offering a detailed look at the tradeoffs in his approach.

Read the full story at Columbia Journalism Review →