Christopher Blank
News DirectorTrading his hometown newsroom of the St. Petersburg Times (alligators, beach bars and Florida Men) for the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Elvis, civil rights and barbecue) more than two decades ago, Christopher continues his quest for culturally rich human interest stories as News Director at WKNO.
He is a regular contributor to NPR and moderates conversations about Memphis' arts and culture community through the station's Culture Desk Facebook page. His numerous awards for both print and radio reporting include 2017 and 2020 Green Eyeshade Awards for Public Service Journalism.
He also serves as Senior Producer for the University of Memphis' Institute for Public Service Reporting. WKNO's collaboration with professional and student journalists has resulted in a number of award-winning radio features, including a special report “The Waiting Decade: Rape Victims Still Seek Justice”, which won First Place prizes in Investigative Reporting and Short Documentary from the Public Media Journalists Association in 2020.
Recent extracurricular projects include helping to produce the first full-length recording of the Orpheum Theatre's historic Wurlitzer organ.
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This week lawmakers debated bills on school vouchers and whether a city government can have any say on how their local police force conducts itself with residents.
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Republicans propose several measures to further make supermajority rule unanswerable to critics, communities and constitution.
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Shelby County's crime problem could be addressed with an intensive, multi-agency effort. But it'll take money and political will.
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State Sen. Brent Taylor proposes a new judicial district for the Memphis suburbs.
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"Work Therapy" programs, sometimes court ordered, say participants get needed help in exchange for free labor. But some health care professionals question the therapeutic benefits.
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A community beset by crime wants tougher laws. But a year after police beat Tyre Nichols, the debate continues over what those laws should be.
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Some new anti-crime laws proposed by Tennessee Republicans could run afoul of federal laws, but also have big consequences for juvenile crime.
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As the Memphis City Council reconsiders a police chief's job or council members' lifetime health benefits, state government puts limits on speech and debate.
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Another year of record homicides creates more urgency for a tough, coordinated response to Memphis' biggest problem.
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From the Tyre Nichols beating to the Gun Shy Tennessee General Assembly, law enforcement and guns dominated the year's news.