Concussion Legacy Foundation, BT Sport partner for first concussion reporting workshop for broadcasters and pundits
Contact: Julia Manning | +1 515-201-7199 | jmanning@concussionfoundation.org
(Oxford, UK) – BT Sport hosted the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF)’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO in late March, becoming the first sports media outlet in the world to offer the training. The Workshop is part of the CLF Media Project, the first and only concussion education program designed specifically for sports media members.
“Improving our understanding and research into concussion in sport is a subject that I am hugely passionate about, and whilst it is extremely important that we understand the impact in training, in the game and on our bodies, we the sports media can also play our part in ensuring that we report and describe concussion and head impacts correctly, so that our viewers understand what they are seeing on the field and the correct response,” said Ben Kay, Rugby Analyst for BT Sport. “The presentation taught us how to cover the injury while still dealing in facts, something which I would encourage all sports broadcasters to invest their time in learning about.”
CLF presented two Workshop sessions, one to cricket and boxing staff and another for football and rugby personnel. BT Sport producers, reporters, and presenters had the opportunity to ask CLF co-founders Dr. Robert Cantu and Dr. Chris Nowinski questions as they learned the basics of concussion, the dos and don’ts of reporting on concussion, and the importance of concussion reporting to educate hard-to-reach coaches, parents, and athletes.
“The UK is many years behind the US in terms of understanding and dealing with concussion in sport,” said Dr Adam J. White, Executive Director of CLF UK. “It is great that an organisation as influential as BT Sport is taking this step to educate their team on the proper standards for concussion coverage and shows tremendous leadership on responsible reporting. Every concussion on TV is an opportunity to educate, so when a commentator highlights the importance of concussion, it reinforces to every spectator, athlete, kid, and parent why we should be taking concussions seriously.”
CLF launched the Media Project, which includes three parts: a Concussion Reporting Certification for sports media professionals, a Concussion Reporting Workshop for sports journalism students, and the Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for sports media outlets, in 2018. Sports media veterans J.A. Adande, Bob Costas, Andrea Kremer, and Olivia Stomski helped CLF create the curriculum for the Media Project and serve as advisors for the program. More than 140 sports media professionals are now Concussion Reporting Certified, and the Concussion Reporting Workshop has been taught in 54 classes at 24 schools in the US and UK including St. Mary’s University Twickenham and Bournemouth University.
Sports media outlets interested in offering a Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO to their staffs can learn more here and contact CLF Education Programs Manager Brandon Boyd at bboyd@concussionfoundation.org. Sports media professional interested in becoming Concussion Reporting Certified can take the certification quiz here.