In the evening of July 18 at "Astafyan" restaurant a reception on the occasion of the 7th anniversary since the foundation of Yerevan Press Club and the Annual YPC Award ceremony were held. The YPC Annual Award is granted to the best journalists and media organizations of Armenia since 1998.
As the tradition requires, the awardees for 2001 were determined by a special jury, this year represented by: Edik Baghdasarian (President of the Association of Investigative Journalists of Armenia), Astghik Gevorgian (Chairwoman of Journalists Union of Armenia); Avetik Ishkhanian (Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Committee), Karineh Khodikian (Chief Editor of "Grakan Tert" newspaper), Eghishe Petrosian (Director of "Ardzagank" radio station).
The YPC Awardees for 2001 are:
The creative group of "Yerevan-Baku: Front Line" TV bridges of Internews Armenia NGO – for enabling the public to start a dialogue;
The author and host of "P.S." program of "A1+" TV company Aram Abrahamian – for ensuring the diversity of opinion on air;
The Supreme Television Training Courses of "Meltex" LLC. – for the best TV school;
Journalist Satik Seyranian – for publishing a series of articles on the villas of the Armenian officials in "Aravot" daily and for providing factual data to the governmental anticorruption program;
Journalist Aris Ghazinian – for publishing a series of articles on the borderline villages of Tavush region in “Golos Armenii” newspaper as a reminder of the borders of the country;
"Asparez" Journalists’ Club – for the activation of journalistic life in Gyumri;
Journalist Samvel Mkrtchian – for "Gyumri: the Agony of 12 Years" article in "Grakan Tert" newspaper as the best publicist piece;
Chief Editor of "Shakhmatain Hayastan" journal Gagik Hovhannisian – for loyalty to the subject;
Students of Journalism Department of Yerevan State University Arpineh Haroutiunian and Aghavni Eghiazarian – for "In Search of Work" investigative article as the best debut;
Journalist Arevhat Grigorian – for the cycle of environmental articles in "Hetq" electronic weekly.
As the tradition goes, the diplomatic missions and the representations of reputable international organizations in Armenia granted their own prizes to the awardees.
The Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Roy Reeve awarded Arevhat Grigorian.
The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany in Armenia Hans-Wulf Bartels granted a prize to Aris Ghazinian.
On behalf of the British Embassy the Third Secretary Sarah Murrell awarded the creative group of Internews-Armenia, "Meltex" TV school and "Asparez" Journalists’ Club.
On behalf of the US Embassy the Public Affairs Officer John Balian awarded Satik Seyranian.
On behalf of the UN Department of Public Information Armineh Haladjan granted prizes to Aram Abrahamian, Samvel Mkrtchian, Gagik Hovhannisian, Arpineh Haroutiunian and Aghavni Eghiazarian.
OSI Assistance Foundation-Armenia provided financial support to the YPC in organizing ceremony and award conferral.
