Longtime local journalist Clint Cooper named editorial page editor of the Chattanooga Free Press

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

photo Clint Cooper

Clint Cooper, a writer and editor in Chattanooga for 34 years, has been appointed editorial page editor for the Chattanooga Free Press.

The Times Free Press is unique among American newspapers in publishing two editorial pages. The Times opinion page offers a more liberal perspective, and the Free Press editorial page presents a conservative viewpoint. Pam Sohn is editor of the Times page.

A native of Chattanooga, Cooper is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He began his journalism career in 1980 as sports writer for the Chattanooga Free Press. For 20 years, Cooper was sports news editor for the Free Press, and was named assistant sports editor in 1999. Most recently, he has been a feature writer primarily covering the faith beat.

Alison Gerber, editor of the Times Free Press, said Cooper is a natural fit for the page.

"Clint understands the values of the Free Press page," she said. "He will bring a strong conservative voice to the page and his opinions will be a good counter-balance to the Times page."

Jason Taylor, president of the Times Free Press, said Cooper understands the Chattanooga area and respects the tradition of the Free Press editorial page.

"He knows and loves this community, and his depth of knowledge about it will inform his editorials," Taylor said.

During Cooper's time in the sports department, the Free Press received the Tennessee Sports Writers Association award for Best Section. He has been honored by the Southern League Baseball association for team coverage of the Chattanooga Lookouts. Cooper is a well-known figure in Chattanooga's faith community, having written a weekly column on religion for more than a decade.

"I appreciate the opportunity this position affords and, as a fiscal and social conservative, I look forward to upholding the traditions of this page," Cooper said. "I was fortunate to work in the Chattanooga Free Press newsroom with Lee Anderson, who was editor of this page from 1958 to 2012, and he served not only as a conservative mentor but also as a gentleman and friend."