Late spring is a wonderful time in Memphis, but University of Memphis journalism professor Otis Sanford will spend a few weeks of his spring in Germany.

Sanford, the Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism at the U of M’s Department of Journalism and Strategic Media, has been chosen to teach a course at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, from May 10 to June 2. The course is titled “Politics, the Press and Race in America.”

Sanford’s participation is part of the department’s partnership with Gutenberg that also sends four journalism and strategic media students to Germany each year.

Sanford published his latest book, “From Boss Crump to King Willie: How Race Changed Memphis Politics,” in 2017.

Sanford, who came to the university after a distinguished journalism career at The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal, the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger, The Pittsburgh Press and the Detroit Free Press, teaches media writing, mass media, diversity and society, survey of mass communication and reporting at the U of M.

Sanford also writes for The Daily Memphian and is a political commentator for WATN Local 24 TV in Memphis.

— Phillip Tutor, CCFA media coordinator, potutor@memphis.edu