Sanford, a longtime editor with The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, now holds the Helen and Jabie Hardin Chair of Excellence in Economics/Managerial Journalism in the Department of Journalism at the University of Memphis. The Mississippi native joined The Commercial Appeal in 1977 and was part of the reporting team that covered the 1977 death of Elvis Presley, rising through the newsroom to become managing editor and editor of opinions and editorials before moving into academia in 2011. A nationally recognized speaker on journalism ethics, education and the First Amendment, Sanford is the recipient of the Silver Em Award from his alma mater, the University of Mississippi, and the annual print journalism award at the University of Memphis was named in his honor.
