The local media landscape in Tennessee is undergoing a major shift. In a recently announced transaction, the Chattanooga Times Free Press has been acquired by Craig Fuller and his father, Max Fuller, from longtime owner WEHCO Media, Inc. Effective July 31, 2026, the deal returns the venerable daily newspaper to local, family-owned hands.
A Legacy of Journalism Meets Modern Local Leadership
For more than 150 years, the Times Free Press has served as the essential news provider for Chattanooga and the broader East Tennessee region. Its commitment to public accountability and local reporting was reaffirmed as recently as June, when the paper swept 23 awards—including the prestigious General Excellence award—at the 2026 Tennessee Press Association journalism contest.
Despite its stellar journalistic reputation, the paper faced the same economic headwinds affecting traditional newsrooms nationwide. As publisher Eliza Hussman Gaines noted, while the journalism remained strong, the legacy newspaper model struggled with profitability.
WEHCO Media Chairman Walter Hussman, Jr. highlighted the philosophy behind the sale:
“I believe the greatest chance for success for a local news organization is to be locally owned and operated… Owners who live, work and participate in a community will be the most responsive and accountable to the public they serve.”
Who Are the New Owners?
The Fuller family is deeply embedded in Chattanooga’s business community. Over multiple generations, they have helped build key regional and national enterprises, including U.S. Xpress, Covenant Transport, Transcard, FreightWaves, and Firecrown Media.
Craig Fuller, who steps into the role of CEO at the Times Free Press, brings extensive media experience to the publication:
- FreightWaves: Founded by Fuller, it is a premier media and data provider for the global logistics industry.
- Firecrown Media: Focused on acquiring legacy titles and applying modern digital strategy and audience-centric tech to strengthen distribution and newsgathering.
Looking Ahead: Innovation and Sustainability
Rather than scaling back, the incoming leadership team aims to modernize the publication’s business model using data and digital tools while investing in high-impact, local reporting.
“Our plan is to restore the Times Free Press to profitability while investing in its future, so that our children and grandchildren benefit from the journalism and storytelling this paper has delivered for generations,” said Craig Fuller.
By combining deep local roots with a tech-forward media playbook, the transaction presents a promising roadmap for how legacy regional newspapers can achieve financial sustainability while continuing to serve as vital civic institutions.
The transaction was facilitated by media merger and acquisition advisory firm Dirks, Van Essen & April, representing WEHCO Media, Inc.
