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

TSN becomes one of first networks to host Concussion Reporting Workshop for football broadcast team

(Boston) – Canada’s TSN (The Sports Network) hosted the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF)’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for their football broadcast team in September 2022, becoming one of the first major sports outlets to offer the training. TSN hosted the Workshop for their on-air and production teams who cover the NFL and CFL. TSN is the second sports media organization in the world and first Canadian media organization to offer the Workshop PRO. The Workshop PRO is part of the CLF Media Project, the first and only concussion education program designed specifically for sports media members. 

“We are always looking to augment our reporting on key issues in the world of sports, and the CLF’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO was a valuable resource for our football production teams,” said Ken Volden, Executive Producer, TSN. “Concussions are an extremely significant issue impacting many sports, and the workshop improved our ability to educate fans and keep them informed on the most up-to-date recommendations. We look forward to participating in additional workshops with CLF in the future.”

CLF presented to a group of TSN’s football play-by-play voices, game analysts, and production team members. During the hour-long session, CLF’s education programs manager Brandon Boyd explained the basics of concussion and outlined CLF’s concussion reporting recommendations. 

“TSN is the leader in sports coverage in Canada,” said Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada. “TSN providing this training for their football broadcast team shows their commitment to accurate, informative concussion reporting. The millions of Canadians who tune in to TSN’s football coverage are now in a better position to learn critically important information about concussion and concussion management.”

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 Workshop PRO for sports media outlets such as TSN, a Concussion Reporting Workshop U for sports journalism students, and the Concussion Reporting Certification for sports media professionals. BT Sport hosted the first Workshop PRO sessions for their boxing, cricket, soccer, and rugby broadcast teams in March 2022. The Workshop U has been taught at 26 of the top journalism programs across the globe like Northwestern University, the University of Missouri, Syracuse University, and Arizona State University. Nearly 150 sports media professionals, including TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Dave Jamieson, 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.