Courier Journal's 'Safer Sidelines' project wins National Headliner Award

Safer Sidelines, a multipart Courier Journal investigation into sudden death in youth sports, has been named one of the best newspaper investigations of 2023 by the National Headliner Awards.

The project from reporter Stephanie Kuzydym, Enterprise & Investigations Editor Rob Byers and designer Kyle Slagle received first place for investigations produced outside the nation’s Top 20 media markets.

National Headliner Awards judges had this to say about the April 2023 project: “A riveting, extensively reported and well written series on high school sports deaths. The stories not only pointed out dozens of cases where authorities failed to act, but they provided solutions. Well done!”

Kuzydym, who joined The Courier Journal in 2022, developed a strong interest in the topic of sports safety after a high school athlete in her hometown collapsed and died of an undetected heart condition several years ago

"The Courier Journal newsroom works tirelessly to create compelling and important journalism that impacts and positively changes our community," said Mary Irby-Jones, Courier Journal Executive Editor and Midwest Region Editor. "Obviously, Safer Sidelines fulfills that mission and does so much more to save lives across our community, state and nation. And while we don't write these stories to win awards, I am glad to see Stephanie recognized for work that has been a lifelong passion."

Earlier in April, the Associated Press Sports Editors named Safer Sidelines the best investigative project of 2023 in its annual awards.

And in August, the project received a first-place award from the Online News Association in the sports, health and wellness category for small/medium newsrooms.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: National Headliner Award goes to Courier Journal's Safer Sidelines