PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is set to recognize Katie Katro, 6ABC Action News Reporter, with the ANCA Eastern Region Excellence in Media Award at its 15th annual gala on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel beginning at 6:30 pm EDT.
The inaugural Excellence in Media Award will be presented to Katro who has used her platform as a news reporter to help the Armenian community reach a wider audience and call attention to Armenian issues in the mainstream media.
“On behalf of the ANCA Eastern Region gala committee, we are looking forward to recognizing Katie for her incredible work in building awareness for the Armenian cause among the broader community. Reporters like Katie are able to spread our message to a wider audience, her efforts are integral to the success of Hai Tahd and that is what makes this award so meaningful,” said Phil Nigon, ANCA Eastern Region gala committee member.
Katro’s diverse background led her to pursue a career in journalism in order to bring a voice to the stories of people in need of representation. Born in Athens, Greece, to parents who grew up in communist Albania, Katro lived in England and Belfast, Ireland before immigrating to Philadelphia. Katro attended Abington High School in Philadelphia, where she found her passion for journalism, producing news pieces that she shot and edited for Abington’s cable channel. During her senior year, she was the editor-in-chief of her high school’s paper, and was awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal for completing more than 400 hours of community service.
Katro graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism and 15 competitive internships across New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Upon graduating, she began working at 5News in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a field reporter and fill-in anchor. Katie then worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor at WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut, where she also served on the Communications Advisory Board for Manchester Community College, mentoring college students.
Katro loves giving back to her community and mentoring student journalists. Having a passion for traveling and learning about other cultures, Katro has visited over 15 countries.
Michigan State Representative Mari Manoogian will preside over the gala, which will comply with all COVID-19 safety protocols, and feature a cocktail reception and silent auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. and dinner and an awards program beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be found at: www.givergy.us/ancaer. The region is set to honor Philadelphia activist Andrew Kzirian with the ANCA Eastern Region Vahan Cardashian Award, internationally recognized human rights attorney Siranush Sahakyan and Conan O’Brien’s Executive Assistant Sona Movsesian with ANCA Eastern Region Freedom Awards, as well as the region’s summer interns who participated in the regional internship program and the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Program in Washington, DC.
For more information about this year’s gala visit givergy.us/ancaer or contact: ergala@anca.org.
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The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of 31 chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. For more information, visit https://er.anca.org/.