The Salt Lake Tribune reduced its coverage of Saturday's Real Salt Lake-Revolution game "following a decision by RSL officials to pull the press credential" of the paper's sports columnist Gordon Monson and "bar him from covering the match," according to the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The paper in response "pulled back RSL beat writer Chris Kamrani and photographer Francisco Kjolseth from Saturday's planned game coverage." RSL Chief Business Officer Andrew Carroll "informed The Tribune on Friday that RSL was denying Monson access to cover the contest and future home games, citing continued unhappiness with the writer over a pair of columns he wrote last season that were critical" of RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen. Monson was "issued a season credential by RSL." But Carroll cited that as an "'internal' mistake in the credentialing process." Carroll in a statement said, "We are not trying to control the message, we are not telling anyone what to write or not to write, but are simply choosing -- in this isolated case -- to not invite someone, who we feel is unfair and biased and who possess a conflict of interest." Carroll "claims Monson has a conflict of interest because he co-hosts an afternoon sports talk radio show" on Salt Lake City-based KZNS-AM with Spence Checketts, who is the son of former RSL Owner Dave Checketts. Salt Lake Tribune Editor & Publisher Terry Orme said, "This is the first time someone has denied Monson access to cover an event" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/17).
