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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As recently as last week, ICE arrests made up nearly 19% of total Memphis Safe Task Force arrests. But that data is no longer being released. -
After the Shelby County Commission voted last month to put all nine school board seats up for election next year, Mayor Lee Harris vetoed it. Tonight, commissioners will vote on an override.
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International Paper says it’s outsourcing its information technology services to an India-based tech firm.
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State troopers are hauling in more drivers on misdemeanor charges. Does this, too, help clean up the streets? -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s "Behind the Headlines," Executive Director of Stand for Children Tennessee, Cardell Orrin, and Executive Director of Just City, Josh Spickler, join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
Tennesseans working in retail, agriculture, food services, and early childhood education industries are not earning a living wage, according to a new report.
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Parents in DeSoto County are calling for a school walkout to protest both the light sentencing given to a convicted sex offender and the controversy caused by character letters written on the offender’s behalf by nine teachers, a vice principal and a school board member.
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Gov. Bill Lee’s administration has responded to a lawsuit filed by local officials that questions the legality of National Guard deployment here.
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On Saturday, protesters in Memphis added to an estimated 5 million nationwide participating in the No Kings rally against President Trump’s polices.
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The City of Millington is threatening to sue Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert for failing to pay nearly two years of rent for office space owned by the city.
