More than 20 Tennessee news organizations in Tennessee have joined together in a lawsuit to try to block part of a new state law they assert restricts their ability to report on critical issues of public safety by allowing police officers to create 25-foot buffer zones around themselves.
Gannett Co., which owns Knox News and seven other news organizations throughout the state, is among the companies joining the suit, as are the parent companies of Knoxville TV stations WATE, WBIR and WVLT.
The law, which took effect July 1, makes it a misdemeanor to come within 25 feet of a police officer lawfully performing official duties if the officer has ordered the person to stop or retreat.
