Christopher Blank
News DirectorMemphis' cultural and historical influences — from Elvis to civil rights to soul music — have been Christopher Blank's favorite subjects since moving here from Florida in the early aughts to be the Commercial Appeal's arts and culture reporter.
As WKNO's News Director for more than a decade, he's been a frequent contributor of news and features to NPR. His numerous awards for both print and radio reporting include 2020 and 2021 Green Eyeshade Awards for Public Service Journalism.
He also serves as Senior Producer for the University of Memphis' Institute for Public Service Reporting. This collaboration with professional and student journalists has resulted in multiple award-winning radio features, most recently for various stories related to immigration and civil rights by the Public Media Journalists Association.
Recent extracurricular projects include co-producing the first full-length recording of the Orpheum Theatre's historic Wurlitzer organ, serving as a production assistant with Company d, which promotes Down syndrome awareness, and writing a popular blog of local theater and arts criticism called The Memphis Review.
Tune in Fridays for his regular Tennessee Politics conversations with political analyst Otis Sanford. Or check out our ongoing Civil Wrongs series for insightful stories about restorative justice.
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Marsha Blackburn wants to run Tennessee through a Trump-style DOGE wringer. Is that what voters want? -
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is making changes to how it handles contracts following a state-ordered forensic audit. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s “Behind the Headlines,” Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with MLK50’s Katherine Burgess and Daily Memphian reporters Mary Cashiola, Jane Donahoe, and Bill Dries. -
Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn shared the stage Wednesday morning with outgoing Governor Bill Lee.
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Otis Sanford discusses Tuesday's election results, including the governor's race and new congressional districts. -
Election Results: Marsha Blackburn wins the governor’s race. District 5: Charlie Hatcher (R), District 8: David Kustoff (R), District 9: Brent Taylor (R).
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Voters will head to the polls today for the midterm elections.
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Shelby County posted the highest early voting turnout of the state’s 95 counties this election cycle, with about 183,000 ballots cast over the 14-day period.
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State Sen. Brent Taylor says telling the truth about sending unsolicited nude selfies to multiple people makes him honest. Otis Sanford says it should make him disqualified. -
Memphis police responded to a disturbance call at an election site Wednesday involving the mother of congressional candidate Justin J. Pearson.
