Say hello to Hadley Hittson, Nashville’s new business reporter.
Hittson comes to The Tennessean from the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama, where she covered children’s health, education and welfare.
Here, she covers healthcare, food and beverage, and trending business news. It’s a tough job, but one Hittson is ready for.
The Alabama Press Association recognized her for her outstanding achievements by selecting her as the state’s 2024 “Emerging Journalist” of the year.
Editor & Publisher magazine also named Hitson one of this year’s “Top 25 News Media Professionals Under 35.”
Hitson, a Birmingham native, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minors in digital media studies and Spanish.
After graduating, she joined the Montgomery Advertiser as a Report for America fellow in 2021, covering local concerns about living near coal ash and the dire sewer shortage in Lowndes County. After completing her fellowship, she was hired as a staff reporter.
Learn more about Hittson in her own words.
Can you tell us about a memorable story you worked on at the Advertiser?
One of the stories that struck me the most was about access to a small rural community: For decades, residents of Packer’s Bend relied heavily on ferries to cross the Alabama River and get to the nearest town where they could find doctors, grocery stores, and other necessities.
The ferry service was suspended in 2016. Since then, county ambulances and sheriff’s vehicles have both struggled to reach the area, and residents have reported feeling less safe.
How do you think your role as a journalist impacts the community you serve?
Whether you’re writing an investigative piece about access to health care or a feature on the newest restaurant opening downtown, it’s all important to understanding the bigger picture of what’s going on in Nashville.
That’s my intended impact: to keep the community informed about the changes happening here every day.
As The Tennessean’s new business reporter specializing in food, beverage and health care, what topics or issues are you interested in covering here and why?
I’ve been extremely interested in tracking the incredible growth the city is seeing in both of these areas, with new restaurants opening almost daily and innovative companies like Oracle deciding to locate their headquarters here.
When it comes to attracting new business, we’re always told that companies want to be where their employees want to be, so we’re excited to see what Nashville does well.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing journalism today, and how do you overcome it in your work?
The big challenges facing journalism right now are misinformation and distrust. When I was reporting in rural Alabama, I encountered many people who were afraid to speak to the media. They didn’t know what to expect and assumed the worst.
At the local level, with every interaction we have an opportunity to build trust with the communities we cover, and the only way I’ve found to do that is to lead with transparency, empathy, and humanity.
What’s your top thing to experience or eat in Nashville and why?
Right now, at the top of my list is finding the best BBQ in town, the coolest wine bar, and going to a Sounds game. These feel like must-haves.
I’m still trying to get to know the individuality of all the neighborhoods in Nashville so any suggestions are welcome.
Hadley Hittson cover She writes about business, dining and health care trends for The Tennessean. Contact her at hhitson@tennessean.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.
