Provide names of other journalists involved.
State capitol reporter Brad Bumsted; sports reporters Kevin Gorman and Chris Harlan
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Sept. 2, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This one-day package looked at concussion protocol and treatment options for high school athletes in Pennsylvania. It examined how the standards of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (WPIAL) compared with those of other states, specifically high-school football hot beds including Ohio, Florida and Texas. This was followed over a period of two months by multiple stories that tracked the proposal and ultimate passage of Pennsylvania’s first concussion mandate legislation for high-school and youth student athletes.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
The Trib analyzed data from the WPIAL and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. Other data came from the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Florida High School State Athletic Association, the Ohio State Athletic Association and the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association. The Trib used a combination of old-fashioned reporting (phone and in-person interviews) to gain the trust of its subjects for the purposes of obtaining records regarding statistics on concussions at local and national levels, in addition to treatment options based off the opinion of a variety of experts in medical and clinical fields. For the follow-up stories on legislation, the Trib relied on Pennsylvania government data bases to track down the history of bills introduced into the General Assembly.
Explain types of human sources used.
Reporter Rob Rossi spent parts of July and August conducting personal and phone interviews with more than 50 physicians and clinicians; high-school athletes and their parents, coaches and athletic directors. Subjects included officials and participants of the WPIAL, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, National Athletic Trainers Association, Florida High School State Athletic Association, American Psychology Association and the National Federation of State High Schools Association. Michael Collins, head clinician of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic, was a valuable source. The Trib interviewed several doctors from Allegheny General Hospital, which, like UPMC, holds contracts with Western Pennsylvania high schools to provide medical services. and others. For follow-up stories, Rossi teamed with others to track the concussion bill, and there were joint efforts to gather information and documents from state elected officials in addition to follow-up interviewed with many of the sources for the original package.
Results:
The Trib identified local schools that did not employ a certified athletic trainer. Also, the Trib outlined symptoms and treatment options for concussions. The package spotlighted the issue of concussion protocol while a little-known bill regarding treatment was languishing in the General Assembly; a modified version was passed within two months of the one-day package. The new law stipulates that a young athlete who has suffered a concussion must obtain a doctor’s approval before returning to competition.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
Follow-ups included reports on the passage of a bill stipulating that young athletes who suffer a concussion must obtain a doctor’s approval before returning to competition. “Sports concussion bill gains strength,” 10/6/12, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_760465.html “Student athlete protection cleared,” 11/2/12, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_764974.html
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Look for a broader story on your beat. Rob Rossi, who pitched the idea for the package, was the paper’s Penguins beat reporter when the team’s superstar was sidelined by a concussion and wound up missing half the season. Rossi’s question: If Sidney Crosby, who has access to the best care possible, cannot get a handle on his concussion, what happens to high school students who have a similar injury? Rossi did the reporting during what would have been his usual summer down time. Beat reporters, especially from the sports department, should be prepared to thoroughly research medical publications to get a handle on the proper terminology and push themselves to work outside their comfort zone. Additionally, teamwork is necessary. The hockey writer relied on help from the sports high-school staff and the state capital reporter to advance the story.