Christopher Blank
News DirectorMemphis' cultural and historical influences — from Elvis to civil rights to soul music — have been Christopher Blank's favorite subjects since moving here from Florida in the early aughts to be the Commercial Appeal's arts and culture reporter.
As WKNO's News Director for more than a decade, he's been a frequent contributor of news and features to NPR. His numerous awards for both print and radio reporting include 2020 and 2021 Green Eyeshade Awards for Public Service Journalism.
He also serves as Senior Producer for the University of Memphis' Institute for Public Service Reporting. This collaboration with professional and student journalists has resulted in multiple award-winning radio features, most recently for various stories related to immigration and civil rights by the Public Media Journalists Association.
Recent extracurricular projects include co-producing the first full-length recording of the Orpheum Theatre's historic Wurlitzer organ, serving as a production assistant with Company d, which promotes Down syndrome awareness, and writing a popular blog of local theater and arts criticism called The Memphis Review.
Tune in Fridays for his regular Tennessee Politics conversations with political analyst Otis Sanford. Or check out our ongoing Civil Wrongs series for insightful stories about restorative justice.
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Shelby County Sheriff Anthony Buckner says a new county jail complex could be built in phases over multiple years, rather than all at once. -
Former Commercial Appeal editor Otis Sanford reflects on why local media covers national events, but also how it has changed in the decades since Sept. 11. -
A federal court has ruled that the Tennessee Valley Authority broke the law when moving forward with new a gas plant near Knoxville.
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This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s “Behind the Headlines,” new Shelby County Sheriff Anthony Buckner joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
New Shelby County Clerk LaSonya Hall told county officials that a new backlog of unprocessed car titles and registration packets were waiting for her when she took over the position last week.
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A Sumatran tiger at the Memphis Zoo has given birth to twin female cubs.
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Research shows children who read regularly, especially for pleasure, do better in school, are more literate, and have stronger cognitive skills.
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As SpaceXAI expands its campus on the Memphis-Mississippi border, residents say noise pollution has become a major concern.
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The National Guard and ICE are operating in legal gray areas with little to no accountability. Otis Sanford says its time for mayors to speak out. -
State Troopers played a supporting role in last Sunday’s ICE raid of a Memphis restaurant and bar, though officials have not so far acknowledged that the Tennessee Highway Patrol, The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and ICE were working in conjunction.
