A former Chattanooga reporter on Thursday fulfilled a promise he made to himself 21 years ago by becoming the next executive editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
J. Todd Foster now serves as editor of the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier, which recently won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. He succeeds former executive editor and publisher Tom Griscom, who resigned June 30.
Mr. Foster covered health care and the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Chattanooga Free Press from 1985 to 1989.
"In September of 1989 when I left this newsroom for the last time, I literally made a secret vow to myself that I've never told anybody about, and that was to return one day and lead the newsroom," he said Thursday. "This is the dream job I've been destined for for 21 years."
After leaving Chattanooga, Mr. Foster continued his career as an investigative reporter for publications such as the Portland Oregonian, the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal and People magazine.
Walter E. Hussman Jr., chairman and publisher of WEHCO Media Inc., the Little Rock, Ark.-based parent company of the Times Free Press, said he is "so blessed" to find a candidate with a strong journalism background and a connection to Chattanooga.
"And the Pulitzer Prize, it's hard to get a better recommendation," he said with a smile. "I just feel really fortunate that Todd was interested in coming here."
Mr. Foster, 49, who will take over leadership of the newsroom on July 26, said readers can expect to see even more hard news inside.
"We'll react quicker to the news of the day," he said.
He said he wants to foster a collaborative reporter- and photographer-driven newspaper that focuses on investigative reporting.
"We really are going to report the news impartially without fear or favor. There will be no sacred cows," he said.
Times Free Press President Jason Taylor said Mr. Foster brings to the table everything newspaper directors were looking for in an executive editor.
"He has a real commitment to hard news, and we believe hard and breaking news are our franchise," Mr. Taylor said. "He has a real passion for this business. We just feel really fortunate."
Thursday's announcement wasn't good news for the Bristol Herald-Courier, the newspaper Mr. Foster will leave behind.
Carl Esposito described himself as the "mourning publisher" of the paper.
"While Todd will be greatly missed by Bristol Herald Courier colleagues and readers alike, we wish him the very best as he sets about the task of raising the bar in Chattanooga just as he did in Bristol," Mr. Esposito said.
He said Times Free Press readers have much to look forward to.
"The guy is extremely passionate about journalism and a newspaper's place and importance in a community," he said. "Readers can expect hard-hitting, watchdog journalism of the highest caliber."
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