Armenian journalist becomes national primetime news anchor in U.S.

ATLANTA, Ga. – Tatevik Aprikyan has been named the new host of “The Why”—Newsy’s primetime news program.

“The Why,” which premiered earlier this month on the nation’s only free 24/7 broadcast news network, goes beyond the headlines with hyper-visual explanatory journalism and compelling guest interviews. Aprikyan has been at the helm of an hour-long deep dive into relevant social, cultural and political topics.

“This will be unique programming for primetime viewers,” said Eric Ludgood, head of Newsy. “Tatevik is an experienced journalist with great storytelling skills and a knack for engaging audiences.”

Aprikyan has been an award-winning broadcast journalist in Seattle since 2015. Prior to that, she was an anchor and/or reporter in Providence, Rhode Island; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Seattle and Bellevue, Washington.

She has been an anchor or reporter for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliate stations. Aprikyan has covered some of the country’s biggest stories, including the trial of the Boston Marathon bomber, the Ebola outbreak, Affordable Care Act, US-Russia and Middle East relations and health care (autism, scientific research and children’s health).

Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, her family moved to Seattle when she was five years old. Aprikyan speaks Armenian, Russian and French. She is an advocate for children’s health, serving on the board of directors for non-profits providing humanitarian relief to orphaned children around the world.

“This is a special opportunity at Newsy,” Aprikyan said. “We are going to provide viewers with the kind of information that offers insight into the complex issues of the day. It’s the kind of work that journalists live for. It’s a chance to make a difference for our audience.”

Hank Mendheim is the executive producer of “The Why.” An Emmy Award-winning television executive, Mendheim most recently served as executive producer of WLS Television’s “Windy City LIVE” in Chicago. His television producing career spans nearly three decades creating news and entertainment programming for A&E, Bravo, Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, Lifetime, Animal Planet, Sundance, Hallmark Channel, Oxygen, MSNBC and The Weather Channel.

Viewers can watch Newsy over the air using their TVs’ built-in tuners or digital antennas, on Newsy.com, as well as on streaming devices or services, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Pluto TV, Roku, Samsung, Sling, Vizio and Xumo.

Newsy is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, a diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world. Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets.