Contact: Julia Manning | +1 515-201-7199 | jmanning@concussionfoundation.org 

Concussion Legacy Foundation, Major League Baseball partner for concussion reporting training for broadcasters

(Boston) – Major League Baseball (MLB) is now the first professional sports league in the world to host the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF)’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for their broadcast partners. MLB hosted the Workshop as part of a broadcaster meeting during the 2022 regular season. The Workshop is part of the CLF Media Project, the first and only concussion education program designed specifically for sports media members.

CLF presented to a group of radio and television play-by-play and color commentators from all 30 MLB teams, including prominent baseball broadcast voices Brian Anderson, Jason Benetti, Orel Hershiser, and Jon “Boog” Sciambi. During the session, CLF co-founder Dr. Chris Nowinski explained how sports media’s coverage of concussion can impact public awareness about the injury and the best practices for concussion reporting. 

“We were honored by MLB’s invitation to present our Concussion Reporting Workshop and applaud them for taking this step,” said Nowinski. “Although concussions are rare in baseball, every concussion or possible concussion in a baseball game is an opportunity to educate the audience about a complex injury with evolving protocols. Dozens of influential baseball broadcast voices are now better equipped to inform viewers how to recognize and respond to a concussion, which can be life-saving information.”

CLF launched the Media Project in 2018 with the help of sports media veterans J.A. Adande, Bob Costas, Andrea Kremer, and Olivia Stomski, who now serve as advisors for the program.

The Media Project includes three parts: a Concussion Reporting Certification for sports media professionals, a Concussion Reporting Workshop U for sports journalism students, and the Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for sports media outlets. The Workshop has been taught at 27 of the top journalism programs across the globe like Arizona State University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, and the University of Missouri. Over 150 sports media professionals, including Anderson, Benetti, Costas, Kremer, and Pam Oliver are Concussion Reporting Certified. 

Sports leagues and sports media outlets interested in offering a Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO to their staffs can learn more here and contact Brandon Boyd at bboyd@concussionfoundation.org. Sports media professional interested in becoming Concussion Reporting Certified can take the certification quiz here.