Otis Sanford

Otis L. Sanford is a journalist, columnist, commentator and educator who holds the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Economic and Managerial Journalism at the University of Memphis. For more than 35 years, he has worked as a print journalist in a variety of newsgathering and editorial roles at four daily metropolitan ewspapers including The Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion-Ledger, The Memphis Commercial Appeal, The Pittsburgh Press and the Detroit Free Press. Most recently, Sanford served as editorial page editor and managing editor of The Commercial Appeal; facilitated the opening of the DeSoto Appeal, a satellite newspaper serving
residents of DeSoto County, Mississippi and is creator and founder of the now
highly successful Teen Appeal which has become a national model for student newspapers.

Sanford is an award winning columnist who is widely noted for his political savvy. He offers daily political commentary on the CBS affiliate station, WREG-TV News Channel 3, where he also co-hosts the weekly public affairs program, Informed Sources.

Sanford is past president of the Associated Press Media Editors Association (APME) and past president of the APME Foundation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-South Food Bank and also HER Faith Ministries, Inc., an outreach charity that serves homeless women and children in Memphis and Shelby County. He is also chairman of the Board of Deacons at the Greater Middle Baptist Church in Memphis.