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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Karanja Ajanaku, former editor of the Memphis Tri-State Defender and longtime Memphis journalist, has died. -
This week on WKNO/Channel 10’s Behind the Headlines, Casey Bryant, Executive Director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights, and Michael Phillips, Executive Director of Su Casa Family Ministries, join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. -
Memphis-Shelby County Schools may lose $17 million in federal funds it uses to pay for school-based translators and district-level staff who help educators improve their teaching strategies.
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Tennessee hunger-fighting advocates warn that proposed cuts to SNAP, formerly food stamps, could deepen food insecurity as the budget reconciliation bill returns to the House.
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The Shelby County Health Department has granted xAI an air emissions permit to operate 15 natural gas turbines as a backup power source for its Southwest Memphis data center.
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After air quality tests by the City of Memphis found no dangerous levels of chemicals in the South Memphis air, a non-profit group is installing its own sensors near the xAI supercomputer.
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According to new data by the Memphis Police Department, overall crime has dropped 20% with meaningful declines in murders, aggravated assaults, and shooting incidents.
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The popular Midtown Irish bar Celtic Crossing was struck by an out-of-control vehicle Monday morning, causing substantial damage to the building’s front exterior along Cooper Street.
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A Tennessee immigrant-led group and other advocates are suing the state over a new law they say unfairly targets people who offer shelter to undocumented immigrants.
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Looking for data on who's getting school vouchers or which cars are illegally driven? Loopholes need fixing first.
