Otis Sanford's Success
In 1975, Otis Sanford established his career in journalism at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, MS. He began as a feature and entertainment writer. Shortly afterwards, he pursued local government and police at The Clarion-Ledger.
In January 2011, Professor joined the Journalism faculty at the University of Memphis. He educated his students in Reporting, Mass Media, Survey of Mass Communication, Media Writing, and Diversity & Society. As a journalism professor he provided his students with informational journalism studies. As well as expanded students' knowledge of journalism skill sets to become more versatile in different career paths.
In 1977, he began working at the Commercial Appeal as a general assignment editor. In August he elaborated on the death of Elvis Presley.
For several years, he intricated the politics, state courts, county government, and federal court beat. During his tenure with the firm he progressed as an assistant editor in 1986.
In 1987, Sanford started his career as an assistant city editor at The Pittsburgh Press. Where he conducted the newspaper’s national, state, and local political reports.
In 1992, he began working for Detroit Free Press as a deputy city editor, supervised the coordination of the paper’s local daily news reports.
In 1994, he revisited The Commercial Appeal and progressed as a deputy managing editor. In 1997, Otis created The Teen Appeal, a high school student newspaper. In 2000, he initiated The Desoto Appeal daily edition. In 2002, he advanced to a managing editor. In 2007, he was known as editor for opinion and editorials. In which he wrote a weekly coverage for the Sunday viewpoint category. He created the citizen editorial board to provide viewers with a chance to form the newspaper’s editorial voice.
In 2008, Mr. Sanford became chairman of the Mid-America Press Institute. In 2010, he was voted President of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association.
Today he continues writing the weekly Viewpoint coverage for The Commercial Appeal. As well as covering the daily political commentary for Memphis WREG-TV Channel 3 news. He is also a co-host and panelist of a weekly public affairs show on Channel 3, called Informed Sources.
Mr. Otis is happily married to his wife with four children. Outside of his time, he loves going to the movie theater with his wife. Since the day he moved to Memphis, he has been a diehard Memphis Grizzlies fan, he purchases tickets every season.