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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Activists and community members gathered Wednesday evening in the Hickory Hill area to mark the third anniversary of the beating death of Tyré Nichols by Memphis Police officers. -
In the first comprehensive review of the state’s school voucher program, the state comptroller’s office found that most public school students who used the vouchers aren’t using them to leave low performing public schools.
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As Memphis-Shelby County Schools considers shaving away empty classrooms with a long-term closure and consolidation plan, its leaders must decide whether to add two more schools to the district or make room for more than 800 students at other campuses.
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Nearly nine in 10 immigration-related arrests made by Memphis Safe Task Force officers started with a traffic stop and were not tied to an underlying violent crime.
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The Tennessee Valley Authority was given the green light to assemble natural gas turbines in Southwest Memphis.
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Starting today, Tennesseans who are used to ordering THC drinks or gummies online — or even having them delivered via DoorDash — will see those options disappear.
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As the Metal Museum takes over the former Memphis College of Art building, the new space brings big opportunity for growth. -
When, or if, three former Memphis Police Department officers who were convicted federally in the death of Tyré Nichols will receive a new trial remains up in the air.
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The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will stay enrolled in a federal program that allows ICE to train deputies to serve immigration-related warrants inside the Shelby County Jail.
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Since the start of the Memphis Safe Task Force, nearly 200 people have been charged with federal crimes.
