Award-winning journalist David Waters will join the University of Memphis’ Institute for Public Service Reporting as assistant director March 1.

Waters retired this month from The Commercial Appeal, where he worked more than 35 years in roles that included religion and education reporter, columnist and editorial page editor. 

He was The Washington Post’s religion editor from 2007 to 2010 and launched, wrote, edited and produced the newspaper’s On Faith website and “Under God” blog. His awards include a Distinguished Writing Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), five Wilbur Awards from the Religion Communicators Council and induction into the Scripps Howard Editorial Hall of Fame. 

The institute’s investigative and in-depth explanatory journalism is published exclusively by The Daily Memphian.

“David is an exceptional journalist and writer who has covered some of the hardest, most difficult and most hopeful stories in Memphis,” said Eric Barnes, president and executive editor of The Daily Memphian. “We’re thrilled that his work will soon be appearing in The Daily Memphian, especially given the issues – children and poverty in all its complexity – about which he’ll be writing.”

Waters will work with Marc Perrusquia, who is director of the institute, which also trains U of M graduate students. Waters graduated from the University of Memphis in 1981 and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses there.

“I love Memphis, I love journalism and I love the university, and this will be the perfect fit for me,” Waters said.