Gerber: The outrage of inconvenience
Stuck in car for 18 hours. Having to sleep at Home Depot. Children stranded overnight at school.
Stories by Alison Gerber
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Gerber: Reporters expose public problems, officials' missteps
It's a reporter's job to dig it out when something isn't happening the way it should. Joy Lukachick did just that when she reported last year on problems at Ha…
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Gerber: 2014 election to be newsy
It's impossible to predict the news. But one thing you can bet on in 2014: there'll be plenty of bare-knuckles politics to cover.
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Gerber: Series seeks to speak the truth
At first, I wasn't sure we should let two reporters spend day and night in the most violent pockets of the city.
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Gerber: Year's top stories: You pick 'em
It's the time of year when jingle bells are ringing and trees are draped in tinsel.
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Gerber: 99 years and still helping
For 99 years, the Chattanooga Times Free Press has raised money during the holidays to help the neediest in our community.
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Gerber: Were mugshots the worst decision?
On Nov. 5, the Times Free Press published a front-page story about the arrests of 32 men charged with gun and drug crimes after a four-year local and federal i…
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Gerber: Coolidge stamp honors valor of local hero
Johnny Cash, Girl Scouts, the War of 1812, modern American art and the Chinese New Year.
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Gerber: Change not easy, even in the funnies
One of the biggest challenges that newspapers face is how to attract new readers with new content without alienating longtime, loyal readers. In other words, h…
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Gerber: Covering critters: News or nonsense?
Rats, mice, snakes, dogs and more rats.
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Gerber: Headlines on state's violent crime do not tell whole story
The headlines screamed from websites and the pages of newspapers last week: "FBI: Tennessee most dangerous US state." "TN has nation's highest violent crime ra…
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Gerber: Shutdown doesn't slow conference
In newsrooms, you'll often hear the term "real people," as in: "Let's find some real people for this story."
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Gerber: The more open, the better
The Hamilton County Commission last week took a step toward openness and transparency.
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Gerber: Reform is here to stay
Like it or not, America's health care overhaul is here.
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Gerber: Civil War events expected to draw 100,000 to Chattanooga area
In the autumn of 1863, Chattanooga was a small river town.
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Gerber: Balancing local and national news
It's a question every local paper must answer: What stories get front-page real estate?
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Gerber: Awards are good; readers are better
Every day, the journalists who work in the Times Free Press newsroom crank out stories and photos.
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Gerber: Football fever in area schools and citywide video of Chattanooga
Are you ready for some football?
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Gerber: Conservative page to remain strong
In the past few days, many Times Free Press readers have expressed fear that the newspaper is abandoning its conservative editorial page.
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Gerber: President's visit brings cheers, jeers
Depending on which side of the political fence you stand, the phrases "Obama Nation" and "Obamination" are probably familiar to you.
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Gerber: Media frenzy to follow president
Chattanooga will get air time on national news networks Tuesday when President Barak Obama visits the Amazon plant here.
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Gerber: A week for the birds
Last week, a runaway oil train in Canada killed 50 people. Egypt ousted then imprisoned its president, triggering days of bloody unrest. Rain left South Pittsb…
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Gerber: One day in the life of our city
An editor years ago told me about a training exercise he'd done with reporters: He'd throw a dart at a phonebook, and the reporter would have to track down the…
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Gerber: Street art scene about to get better
What do the Red Girl and the Blue Rhino have in common?
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Gerber: On free speech and free change
Last Sunday, I wrote about free speech. This past week, the issue of free speech remained the buzzing conversation in our area.
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Gerber: Free speech ignites anger, angst in Manchester
On the surface, defending free speech seems noble and necessary. But when you get down to it, it's a task that can be distasteful, no matter how strongly you b…
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Gerber: Reporters gear up for summer music festivals
It's June and getting warmer and stickier. That can only mean one thing: It's the time of year when music fans mob Tennessee.
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Gerber: Finding the local angle
The bicycles take over this weekend, and cars will have to take a backseat (or, more accurately, a back road).
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Gerber: Government and press freedom: two outcomes
There was good news and bad news for members of the media this week.
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Gerber: Stories that have people talking
You can never tell what kind of stories will get readers talking. Last week, it ranged from chickens to alcohol-related arrests.
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Gerber: A new face on the Times page
A former colleague once described Pam Sohn as being tougher than woodpecker lips.
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Gerber: Newspaper to charge for most online content
It would be nice if, instead of paying for a can of Coke, the Coca-Cola Co. simply gave it away for free.
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Gerber: Animal bill gags the press
Tennessee lawmakers say a bill they passed last week will protect animals from abuse.
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Gerber: New council, new start
Let's take the new members of the Chattanooga City Council at their word.
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Gerber: The Choo Choo , '42,' more Web offerings
It's spring and time for America's favorite pastime. So it's fitting that the Chattanooga region is abuzz with talk about the film "42."
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Gerber: Newspapers, a love story
No one gets into journalism to get rich or to have a relaxing career.
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Gerber: Interesting, important not always the same
It goes without saying that the pope is important. He oversees a flock of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, and a quarter of Americans are Catholic. The selecti…
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Gerber: Good news, bad news, newspaper reflects our city
A 16-year-old killed on the street.
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Alison Gerber: Shining light on problems is this newspaper's job
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck last week questioned the Times Free Press' decision to publish Sheriff Jim Hammond's comments that he's seen more fear o…
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Gerber: Why hide government records?
Q: Who do government officials work for?
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Alison Gerber: Reporting uncovers state failures
People are dying in custody in Tennessee and Georgia and for months the Times Free Press and other newspapers have been trying to answer the most basic questio…
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Gerber: Secret party meeting revisited
It's ironic that Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Paul Smith said at a recent meeting that he was pleased the press wasn't there so party members coul…
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Alison Gerber: Reporter is Washington bound
At a time when many newspapers are scaling back coverage and closing bureaus, the Times Free Press is doing something to buck the trend. We're sending a report…
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Alison Gerber: Sorting facts from fiction
People lie; records don't.
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Alison Gerber: Life, death and readers' habits
For years, the Times Free Press published obituaries in four categories: Hamilton County, Tennessee, Georgia and Other Areas.
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Alison Gerber: Hot races will make a lively 2013
Political fights for the presidency and plunging over the fiscal cliff may be in our nation's rearview mirror. But locally, things are about to heat up when Ci…
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Alison Gerber: New year, new trends
We're coming up on the publication of our annual list of people, places and things to watch in the new year, and we need your help.
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Gerber: Christmas wishes for newsmakers
Since it's the time of year for wish-lists, it seems appropriate to put on a red cap and play a little Santa Claus.
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Alison Gerber: Bedbugs, doomsday and news
Hopefully, this will not be my last column.
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Gerber: Court watching pays off
Reporters have a lot of high-tech tools at their disposal these days. Still, nothing beats old-fashioned, shoe-leather reporting: knocking on doors, combing th…