Frequently Asked Questions

While hundreds of local newspapers across the country have either shuttered or sold to hedge funds, our owners have remained deeply committed to keeping strong, independent reporting alive.

They've made significant investments to maintain a robust newsroom — one of the largest in the region — so journalists can cover the state with the depth and accountability our readers deserve. But relying on one family to preserve this level of reporting is not sustainable long-term. 

Philanthropic funding offers a viable solution by treating community news not as a commodity, but as a public service. Your tax-deductible donations are made directly to the Tennessee Press Association Foundation, not the newspaper, and are granted to the Chattanooga Times Free Press newsroom to support the production of local news.

We want to be perfectly clear: We are not relying on philanthropy alone to ensure the future of our business. We are continually working on strategies to grow our traditional revenue sources, including attracting new subscribers and creating new advertising opportunities. Philanthropic support is the third, crucial leg of this diversified approach to secure the stability needed for the long term.

The newspaper is a for-profit entity, but your donation is a tax-deductible investment that directly funds public service journalism.

Because of changes that have affected the newspaper industry as a whole, there is a gap in funding for in-depth local reporting. Donations fund costly, time-consuming work like in-depth investigations and dedicated coverage of critical local issues such as economic development, education, health and government accountability. This model leverages the newspaper’s existing platforms so that civically important stories reach the largest possible audience. Because this reporting is so vital, funded stories are made available to everyone, regardless of subscriber status.

We’ve partnered with the Tennessee Press Association Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares our belief that fair, accurate and independent reporting isn’t just a product — it’s a public service essential to the civic health of our community. Many readers have asked how they can support this mission beyond subscribing, and this gives them a way to make a deeper investment in the future of local news in Chattanooga.

This philanthropic funding model — used by successful family-owned papers like The New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Charleston Post and Courier — will help ensure our state’s stories are told, our leaders are held accountable and our history is preserved for generations to come.

The reality is that we've already trimmed costs everywhere possible without sacrificing the quality of our local reporting. 

We could become profitable tomorrow by cutting the newsroom in half, but that would come at the cost of watchdog reporting, civic accountability and informed public debate. That's a trade we’re not willing to make.

No. Converting to a nonprofit would shift control to an outside board and make the newspaper dependent on grants, which can fluctuate with donor priorities. Remaining family-owned allows us to be independent, make decisions quickly and uphold the traditional journalistic values that guide our newsroom.

This fund was created solely for the production and expansion of community news. Our agreement with the Tennessee Press Association Foundation prohibits the use of funds for:

• General operating expenses, salaries for executives or owners, or any distribution to shareholders.
• Wire or opinion content.
• Fundraising expenses.
• Any expense not directly related to community journalism.

Donations help our reporters dig deeper, tell stories that might otherwise go untold and reach more people. For example, your support may:

• Fund data purchases that unlock public-record investigations.
• Pay for translation services so important stories reach non-English-speaking readers.
• Support a reporter to fill gaps in coverage, such as our dedicated LEARNS Act reporter, Josh Snyder.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press ensures reader and public trust in our community-funded reporting. The Times Free Press editors and reporters operate independently of our funders and maintain full editorial control over content. Funders do not have special access to newsroom staff.

Your donations help make Community Journalism Project stories accessible online for the public at no charge. 

Click here to view these stories.

Please consider setting up a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual recurring donation to the Chattanooga Local News Project. One-time donations are also accepted.

All donations to the Chattanooga Local News Project are administered by the Tennessee Press Association Foundation. Online donations can be made here, and checks sent to:

Arkansas Community Foundation

5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110

Little Rock, AR 72202

***Please make payable to the Arkansas Community Foundation and write “ADG Community Journalism Project” in the memo line.