SPECIAL REPORT

Armenia Online 2011: What Armenian-Australians read/viewed at armenia.com.au

by Haig Kayserian - armenia.com.au

For the last two years, I have written an article revealing your reading habits on armenia.com.au, and both in 2009 and 2010, this article ended up becoming among the most widely-read.

Here is the 2011 edition!

In 2011, Armenia Online further established itself as the world's number one source for Armenian-Australian community news, as well as the number one Australian source for Armenian news from Armenia and around the world.

Over the last 12 months, the website has attracted over 120,000 visits to its pages.

Armenia Online's email database numbers has increased to over 5,000 subscribers, who receive Armenia Online's weekly newsletter 'Armenia Weekly' in their email inboxes every Tuesday (subscribe your friends by clicking here).

NOW WE PRESENT... the Armenia Online stories of the year, based on official readership figures compiled since January 1, 2011.

TOP STORY OF THE YEAR

The overall most read news item on Armenia Online in 2011 was one titled RIP - Sophie Galstaun (click here to read), announcing the sad passing of one of our community's most respected benefactors, whose name will forever find a place on the name of Australia's only K-12 Armenian day school, Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstaun College.

RUNNER-UP: The story attracting the second-most views was titled ANC Australia condemns statement by St Gregory's Armenian School founder (click here to read). Close behind it were the stories concerning the community's two biggest events of 2011, Yacht Armenia arrives at Sydney Harbour (click here to read) and Confirmed: Harout Pamboukjian to light up Sydney in December (click here to read).

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE STORY OF THE YEAR

Armenia Online covers news in both English and Armenian.

The overall most viewed Armenian-language story on Armenia Online in 2011 was one covering the 25th anniversary Dinner Dance of Galstaun College, titled Տարեկան Պարահանդէսով Մեկնարկուեցաւ Համազգային Գօլստըն ճեմարանի 25 Ամեակի Ձեռնարկները (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: The second-most popular Armenian-language news item on Armenia Online in 2011 was one covering the Armenia trip of Galstaun College students. It was titled Գօլստըն Ճեմարանի Աշակերտները՝ Հայրենիքի մէջ (click here to read).

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

The Armenia Online Multimedia section displayed a wide array of videos throughout 2011, covering Sports, News, Community, Comedy, Music and much more.

The overall most viewed video on Armenia Online in 2011 was titled Leyla Saribekyan gets Sydney up to dance (click here to view), filmed at the Hamazkaine Armenian Sydney Dance Company Dinner Dance in 2010.

RUNNER-UP: The second-most popular video on Armenia Online in 2011 was a web tv tribute to the late Paul Baghdadlian by fellow singer, Joseph Krikorian. It was titled In Memory of Paul Baghdadlian (click here to view).

POLITICAL STORY OF THE YEAR

The winner of this category is titled The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian named first Armenian Minister in NSW government (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: Second was the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) announcement, titled Armenians to select 7202 in Census 2011 (click here to read).

EDUCATION STORY OF THE YEAR

The most-read story in education in 2011 was titled St Gregory's Armenian School site sold to Islamic group (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: Runner-up were two stories from Galstaun College, one titled Community farewells long-serving Galstaun College Principal (click here to view) and the other titled Galstaun College Walkathon: 25th Anniversary, 250 Walkers, 25km (click here to read).

SPORTS STORY OF THE YEAR

Winning the Sports category with most reads in 2011 from an Armenia Online audience was a story titled Darchinyan wins and brings awareness to Armenian Genocide (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: The runner-up sports stories both related to the brilliant Euro 2012 Qualifiers run of the Armenian national football team. They were titled Gallant Armenia goes down to Ireland in controversial circumstances (click here to read) and Willoughby Cultural Centre packed for Armenia qualifier (click here to read).

EVENT STORY OF THE YEAR

There were a number of community-organised events that captured the attention of Armenia Online readers in 2011. The one that had most views was a story covering an event that was the most widely promoted and attended event of the year, titled Harout Pamboukjian lights up Sydney for ARF 121st Anniversary celebrations (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: The stories titled Sydney celebrates Mayis 28 with Adiss Harmandian (click here to read) and Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee announces April 2011 commemorative events (click here to read) are worthy runners-up, based on the number of views they generated during 2011.

FEATURE STORY OF THE YEAR

The most widely-read Feature in 2011 on Armenia Online was one written by renowned US-based Armenian journalist Harut Sassounian, titled Prof. Akcam reveals Turkish plan to pay for Genocide denial (click here to read).

RUNNER-UP: The runner-up was titled Kaylar Michaelian says Thank You (click here to read).

MOST SEARCHED TERMS ON ARMENIA ONLINE - 2011

Finally, we conclude this review by revealing the 10 most searched terms on Armenia Online in 2011:

kim kardashian
paul baghdadlian
darchinyan
armenian revolutionary federation
galstaun college
armenian news
harout pamboukjian
armenian-australian
gladys berejiklian
armenian national committee

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We wish you happy holidays, a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. See you again in 2012.