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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"I would have preferred going to Chicago," said the President on Fox & Friends. Tennessee officials offer mixed reactions. -
Memphis Mayor Paul Young confirmed reports that Gov. Bill Lee and the White House were in talks to send National Guard troops to Memphis. -
Memphis Mayor Paul Young says he could use help with policing, investigations, prosecutions. The National Guard wouldn't do any of that. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, Dean of the School of Public Health at The University of Memphis, Dr. Ashish Joshi, joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
The City of Memphis has been in discussions with Tennessee’s governor and the White House about deploying National Guard troops in the Mid-South.
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Tennessee’s public and charter school students, from kindergarten to 12th grade will soon be learning gun safety skills as required by state law.
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The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 8-3 Monday to remove the New Chicago area from consideration as a site for a proposed new county Criminal Justice Center.
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Riverside Drive along Tom Lee Park reopened today after being closed for upgrades since April.
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The Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility has dismissed another ethics complaint against Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy filed by State Senator Brent Taylor.
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Both Memphis and Nashville are ranked among the FBI's most violent cities. But Gov. Bill Lee hasn't rolled out the red carpet for Trump's crimestoppers.
