Opinion Columnist — The Tennessean

The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, is a diversified media company dedicated to empowering and enriching communities through trusted journalism and digital experiences. As Nashville’s leading news organization, we provide essential local content and contribute to a national network committed to high-quality, unbiased reporting.

About the role

The Tennessean is seeking a sharp, ambitious, and deeply reported opinion columnist to help lead civic conversation in Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and across the state. This columnist will produce distinctive, high-impact commentary that informs readers, challenges assumptions, elevates underheard perspectives, and advances The Tennessean’s commitment to the First Amendment, civil discourse, and a diversity of opinions.

The successful candidate will be an authoritative voice on issues shaping life in Middle Tennessee, including politics, growth, education, culture, equity, business, public safety, accountability, and quality of life. This role requires original reporting, strong sourcing, rigorous analysis, and a clear point of view grounded in facts.

Responsibilities

• Write compelling, timely, and deeply reported opinion columns that serve readers in Nashville, Middle Tennessee, and Tennessee.
• Develop a consistent, recognizable voice that reflects intellectual honesty, fairness, curiosity, and courage.
• Use reporting, data, public records, interviews, and lived community experience to support persuasive arguments.
• Respond quickly and thoughtfully to major news events, elections, public policy debates, and cultural moments.
• Produce enterprise commentary that holds leaders and institutions accountable and helps readers understand complex issues.
• Build and maintain a broad network of sources across government, business, education, faith, nonprofit, neighborhood, arts, sports, and civic communities.
• Engage readers through digital-first storytelling, newsletters, video, audio, social media, and live or virtual community events.
• Collaborate with editors, audience teams, visual journalists, reporters, and USA TODAY Network partners to maximize reach, engagement, and impact.
• Represent the Opinion team professionally in reader conversations, public forums, and community engagement efforts.
• Adhere to USA TODAY Co. standards for accuracy, fairness, ethics, sourcing, corrections, social media conduct, and conflicts of interest.

Requirements

• At least five years of journalism experience, with a strong record of reported commentary, enterprise writing, political or civic journalism, or a closely related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, reporting, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to form clear, defensible arguments supported by facts, context, and independent reporting.
• Deep knowledge of Nashville, Middle Tennessee, or Tennessee — or a proven ability to quickly develop expertise in a local community.
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify issues that matter to local readers and subscribers.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom with daily and weekly deadlines.
• Experience using audience data, search insights, and social listening to inform coverage decisions without compromising editorial independence.
• Fluency with social media as a reporting, engagement, and distribution tool.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while maintaining an independent, distinctive voice.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience covering local or state politics, public policy, growth and development, education, criminal justice, culture, or economic opportunity.
• A track record of columns or essays that drove community conversation, accountability, reader engagement, or measurable digital audience growth.
• Experience with newsletters, podcasts, video commentary, live events, or other audience-centered formats.
• Ability to write across a range of tones, from urgent analysis to explanatory commentary to reflective civic essays.
• Familiarity with Tennessee’s political, cultural, and demographic landscape.

About The Tennessean and USA TODAY Co.

The Tennessean is Nashville’s leading news organization and a vital source of journalism for Middle Tennessee. As part of USA TODAY Co., The Tennessean contributes to a national network committed to essential journalism, local impact, and digital audience growth. The Opinion team seeks to actively influence and improve quality of life in Middle Tennessee by standing for freedom of information, civility, accountability, the voiceless, and a broad diversity of viewpoints.