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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Up to 3,000 Memphis-area children who receive needs-based prekindergarten might not have pre-K centers to go to in January. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s "Behind the Headlines," Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with MLK 50’s Katherine Burgess, and Daily Memphian reporters Bill Dries and Mary Cashiola. -
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton wants to expand school vouchers and ensure wealthy families can also get free state money for private school educations.
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General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer will face no criminal charges stemming from an altercation with sheriff’s deputies at the courthouse in October.
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The University of Memphis has officially announced Charles Huff as the new head football coach.
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The Tennessee Department of Education has named Collierville Schools Principal Deanna Jones as the state’s Principal of the year.
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If not the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, then who? -
About 22,000 runners will take to the streets of Memphis tomorrow morning for the 24th annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon.
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This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s "Behind the Headlines," Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
Steve Cropper, one of the seminal figures from the Stax Records era and an icon of American soul music, has died at age 84.
