Fuller family acquires Chattanooga Times Free Press from WEHCO Media

Chattanooga entrepreneurs Craig Fuller and his father, Max Fuller , have acquired the Chattanooga Times Free Press from WEHCO Media . The transaction takes effect July 31, 2026, and financial terms were not disclosed.

WEHCO has owned the newspaper for decades but said it has struggled to achieve consistent profitability, even while producing award-winning journalism. The sale returns ownership to local investors as many regional news organisations search for sustainable business models.

Craig Fuller will become chief executive officer. He founded FreightWaves and Firecrown Media , both Chattanooga-based companies focused on digital publishing and data-driven business models. The Fuller family also has longstanding ties to transportation through companies including US Xpress , Covenant Transport and Transcard.

"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," Fuller said. The new owners are expected to focus on financial performance while keeping the paper's role as one of Tennessee's leading news organisations.

The deal reflects a broader shift in local news, as community-based investors and digital media entrepreneurs increasingly step in to acquire legacy newspapers.