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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A proposal that would put nine politically appointed advisors over the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board looks to Otis Sanford like voters will lose the ability to govern their own constituency. -
While county grants serve local nonprofits, taxpayers should look carefully at how those funds are spent. -
The company's growing supercomputer needs lots of water and power. Investments in sustainable resources are changing public opinion. -
In this episode of "Behind the Headlines," Shelby County Republican Chair Worth Morgan and Shelby County Democratic Chair Willie Simon discuss key local and national issues, including budget cuts, immigration enforcement, and gun control. The conversation highlighted the need for bipartisan cooperation while addressing ideological differences. -
After school vouchers, few proposals in State of the State Speech think outside of Conservative box. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, host Eric Barnes leads a journalist roundtable featuring MLK50’s Katherine Burgess, the Memphis Flyer’s Toby Sells, and the Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries and Laura Testino. -
A lawsuit raises questions of impropriety, but also whether "he said-she said" allegations will hold up, says Otis Sanford -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10's Behind the Headlines, host Eric Barnes is joined by Shelby County Commissioners Britney Thornton and Mickell Lowery and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
Lawmakers green light $7000 per student enrolled in a private school. -
City and County officials have several big political undertakings to negotiate in the weeks — and years — ahead.
