![Courier Journal reporter Stephanie Kuzidim](https://www.courier-journal.com/gcdn/presto/2023/04/11/PLOU/06e49aff-eafe-4eac-9f78-4491d8e5cbb4-5b885ab8-5305-4415-a1ec-29afccb925b4.jpg?width=660&height=542&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
“Safer Sidelines,” a multi-part Courier Journal series about sudden deaths in youth sports, won the nation’s top sports reporting award.
Associated Press sports editors named reporter Stephanie Kuzidim’s investigative project the best investigative entry of 2023.
Investigative projects from ESPN.com and USA TODAY Sports were ranked second and third, respectively, as finalists for the award. There were a total of nine finalists selected from his 35 entries from across the United States.
Safer Sidelines, which debuted in April 2023, revealed many ways in which high schools, athletic associations and legislators are not preparing for the worst-case scenario in youth sports. It includes a first-of-its-kind, searchable database of U.S. athlete deaths dating back 100 years, allowing Kentucky parents and athletes to find out if their school is ready. Provide information to confirm.
“We are extremely proud of Stephanie Kuzidim’s work on this project,” said Courier-Journal Research Editor Rob Byers. “The results of this project have already been presented at sports medicine conferences and symposiums across the country. We look forward to further expansion.”
APSE’s annual journalism contest offers multiple categories and size categories for news organizations, but the investigative category is the only award without a size category.
Earlier this year, The Courier-Journal’s entry into the APSE Awards was awarded the organization’s “Grand Slam” honor in 2023 for its achievements. CJ was one of three magazines in the United States to win the award, joining the Los Angeles Times and Omaha World. Herald.
In August, Safer Sidelines won the Online News Association’s first place award in the Sports, Health, and Wellness category for small and medium-sized newsrooms.
Closer to home, Safer Sidelines was recognized as Kentucky’s best investigative novel or investigative series of 2023 at the Kentucky Press Association’s annual awards in January. KPA also named Kuzidim the recipient of the Associated Press’ 2023 John Fleischaker Freedom of Information Award for his work uncovering records during the investigation.