Times Free Press Will Launch Weekly Health Column
Chattanooga business leaders can anticipate a new health resource from Dr. Darria Long Gillespie starting October 18.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Healthcare
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The Chattanooga Times Free Press will debut a weekly health column on October 18, 2026, featuring insights from Dr. Darria Long Gillespie. This new editorial series allows the community to submit health-related questions for expert guidance in future editions.
Why it matters
The introduction of this column follows a directive from the newspaper's owner to refocus on local coverage centered on family, faith, and football. Providing consistent, professional health analysis serves as a community touchstone for residents and local business operators alike.
Dr. Darria Long Gillespie brings an audience of 400,000 social media followers to this new weekly partnership. The column aims to provide expertise while the publication shifts its strategic focus toward core local interests.
The players
Chattanooga Times Free Press
A regional newspaper currently shifting its editorial strategy toward localized coverage of family and lifestyle topics.
Dr. Darria Long Gillespie
An emergency medicine physician and academic holding an MD and MBA, serving as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
The details
The column provides expert perspective on common health topics, with initial planned coverage for cold and flu season, e-bike helmet safety, and the efficacy of melatonin. By accepting reader-submitted questions, the publication intends to facilitate a feedback loop that directly addresses local health concerns. Dr. Gillespie, an assistant professor of emergency medicine, will leverage her clinical experience from roles at Erlanger Baroness and Wellstar Kennestone to inform the content.
Timeline
October 18, 2026: The weekly health column begins publication.
Market Landscape
The column launch aligns with the Chattanooga Times Free Press's strategic pivot toward content focused on family, faith, and football. This move marks a departure from broader news coverage to prioritize topics with higher resonance in the local Chattanooga market.
Business owners should monitor the column as a new channel for credible health information, particularly regarding seasonal flu trends that affect workforce attendance. Operators should prepare to source questions for submission to the column once the contact email is live.
The takeaway
The column establishes a structured avenue for public health education in the region starting October 18. Operators should watch for the publication's email submission portal to engage with future topics including workplace wellness and seasonal health management.
Further reading
For more on industry developments, see our latest coverage in Healthcare.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Timesfreepress.
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Would you read a local newspaper health column to help manage your family's wellness concerns?
