Tennessee Legislators Reverse Effort to Ban AP Reporter

Tennessee lawmakers who threatened to suspend an Associated Press statehouse reporter's media credential have chosen not to do so after protests from fellow journalists, according to AP.

“Democratic Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis said he decided to pull the resolution after talking with House leaders,” AP reported.

Towns had introduced the resolution aimed at stripping AP staffer Erik Schelzig of his credential after Schelzig photographed Speaker Kent Williams who collapsed inside the capitol last week. That move prompted complaints from some, including Capitolbeat, a national association of statehouse reporters.

“The resolution said Schelzig hindered 'emergency medical personnel from providing necessary medical care' to Williams,” AP reported. “But video footage from a local television station showed Schelzig was actually behind a glass barrier where reporters are required to work. He has been supported by news organizations and open government advocates -- all of whom said he was doing his job.”