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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Political analyst Otis Sanford discusses an upcoming county race and other issues. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, Executive Director of Just City Josh Spickler and TN State Senator of District 31 Brent Taylor join host Eric Barnes. -
State Senator Brent Tayor's hotline to remove D.A. Steve Mulroy is "unprecedented," says Otis Sanford.
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This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership Carol Coletta, Chief Visionary Officer of BVO Christopher Reyes, and Chief of Games and Technology at BVO Kathryn Hicks join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Holly Whitfield. -
Shelby Clerk Wanda Halbert, D.A. Steve Mulroy and MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins are facing various degrees of pushback from other lawmakers.
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This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, the school superintendents of Lakeland and Germantown, Ted Horrell and Jason Manuel respectively, join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Abigail Warren. -
Beverley Bass had her experience as a pilot on 9/11 recounted in Broadway musical "Come From Away," opening Friday at the Orpheum. -
Environmentally, Elon Musk's latest project raises concerns, but politicians also see transformative dollars.
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This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, Metise Moore, Sr. and President and CEO of Bridges, Dana Wilson, join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
Journalists Toby Sells of the Memphis Flyer and Abigail Warren and Bill Dries of the Daily Memphian join host Eric Barnes for this week's Behind the Headlines.
