The Internews non-governmental organization recently held a competition for the best investigative television production in two categories: Best Television Program or Film, and Best Television Reporting. The prize money was provided by USAID.

On December 12, 2002 the results of the competition were announced. Various organizations and TV companies presented thirteen investigative programs. Although the jury members (Aram Abrahamian, editor-in-chief of the Aravot Daily; Mesrop Harutiunian of the Yerevan Press Club; Levon Barseghian, chairman of the Asparez Club of Gyumri; Vache Sargissian, director of the Yerevan office of Radio Liberty; and Bruce Gellerman, free-lance journalist, USA) expressed regret that of the thirteen, only six or seven had features particular to investigative reporting, nevertheless they signified the importance of the existence and further development of such programs in Armenia. "There are many obstacles today hindering the development of investigative journalism. Unfortunately, not every TV company and newspaper conducts investigations, for it is an expensive and time-consuming process" stated the editor-in-chief of Aravot, Aram Abrahamian. The organizers of the competition registered that our mass media are little interested in this genre.

First prize in the category Best Television Program or Film ($1500) was awarded to Edik Baghdasaryan, the chairman of the Association of Investigative Journalists and director of Versus Studio, for the second film in the series Hetq (footprint). "The film was supposed to be broadcast on A1+ TV station on April 4, 2002, but for well-known reasons it wasn't shown. The video material was sent to the Armenian Public Television, Armenia and Prometheus TV stations. The result is that Armenian Public Television has found that the film would not interest viewers, Armenia has never responded, and Prometheus has simply "lost" the videotape. However, our work has finally been recognized and we are grateful to the organizers of the competition for that", said Edik Baghdasaryan. Second prize in the same category was given to the Noemi TV Company of Giumri for the investigative film "Ostap Bender in Giumri". The prize was accepted by Edward Mkhitarian. "The subject we have presented is quite urgent for Giumri. In future we are going to continue the series of investigative programs", he said.

In the category Best Television Reporting, no first prize was awarded. As Mesrop Harutiunian, a member of the jury noted, there was no reporting that deserved it. Second prize was awarded to Vaghinak Nakhshkarian, a journalist from the Tsayg TV Company, for the video report "The Hospital of Spitak". Honorary mention was given to Alina Ordian for her film "The Hrazdan Gorge: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow".