Markos Papadatos honored with 2021 ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award

By: Barbara Goldsmith, Special to the Hellenic News of America

On October 20, acclaimed journalist and editor Markos Papadatos received a major award and acccolade from the Hellenic News of America and the Hermes Expo International. He was bestowed the 2021 “Journalist of the Year” Hermes Award at the 30th annual Hermes Expo GALA, which took place at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, New Jersey. 

His beloved mother, Effie Papadatos, was also in attendance at the Hermes Expo and the beautiful award ceremony and dinner reception.

With over 16,400 original career articles published, Papadatos is one of the best-loved journalists and editors on the East Coast. His articles have received well over 100 million page views worldwide, and in print, he has been published in seven different states, and in two different languages (English and Modern Greek). He is affectionately known in the entertainment and music business as “The Powerjournalist,” and rightfully so.

For the past two consecutive years, Papadatos has been voted as the “Best Long Island Personality” in Arts & Entertainment by the “Best of Long Island” contest, an honor that has gone to his childhood hero Billy Joel (the “Piano Man”) six times, and Papadatos is nominated and in the running again for “Best Long Island Personality” this year, and he is up for “Best Author,” “Best Blogger” and “Best Poet.”

In his eloquent acceptance speech, Papadatos remarked, “Thank you so much to the Hermes Expo, and the Hellenic News of America publishers Paul Kotrotsios and Aphrodite Kotrotsios for this amazing honor and grand accolade. Congrats to 30 years for the Hermes Expo.”

1 of 7

“As always, thank you to my alma mater, Queens College, for molding me into the person and journalist that I am today. It all started with the “Knight News” and the rest is history. Thank you Saint Francis Prep, I.S. 25, Alex and Olga Moschos at Neraki, and everybody at The Paramount, the best venue on Long Island,” he expressed. 

Papadatos continued, “Thank you to all of my Zoom families for their incredible virtual events during the pandemic, for bringing us all closer together… Linda Rohe and Joe Carsella at Coastal Entertainment, Paul Barotti and Keith Holley at StarStruck Fan Events, Scott Layne and Matt Litchfield at Spectrum Celebrity Events, and thank you to Penny MacGregor at Star Image Entertainment in Canada, as well as Sammy and Alice Bozza at “Samantha’s Friends” for all of the love and support.”

“Thank you to everybody at Digital Journal for having me for almost a decade as your Editor-at-Large. Thank you Michael Beas at Raver Magazine for having me as your Managing Editor, and Donna Drake and Lou Vaccarelli of “The Donna Drake Show” on CBS New York,” he said.

“Thank you to Cameron Mathison, Debbie Matenopoulos, Erik Fellows, Gilles Marini, Kristos Andrews and Mike Manning of “The Bay” (created by Gregori J. Martin), and to Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Andrew for paying tribute to my work. I was really moved, and blown away,” he expressed, in awe of the video tributes they contributed.

“Thank you to every publicist I ever worked with (a special shout-out to Ken Phillips) and every person I ever interviewed in life! It took me 15 years and 16,400 articles to become an overnight success, but it has all been worth it. I say this every single day: ‘I have the best job in the world’ and it doesn’t even feel like work, it is a pleasure and a joy,” he said.

“Being a #Powerjournalist, I am so lucky because I get to interview the greatest people in the fields of acting, entertainment, music, swimming, track and field, magic, food, and lifestyle,” he said.

“Thank you Gary Hahn for your wonderful photography, and always, the biggest thank you in the world to my mother, Effie, for everything! This award means so much to me coming from my very own culture and heritage. I’m very honored. Congratulations to all of the other honorees as well. Here’s to the next 30 years for the Hermes Expo! Thank you to everybody that has been with me on my journey! God Bless,” he said.

Check out the following parade of adulations for Papadatos, which were a part of his video tribute in honor of his Hermes Expo recognition.

“I am so excited for Markos,” exclaimed Cameron Mathison, Emmy-nominated actor and TV host, who plays Drew Cain on “General Hospital.” “I’ve known Markos for about 10 years now, he has covered movies that I’ve done, independent movies, television movies, and he has covered us on ‘Home & Family’ with Debbie Matenopoulos. Also, he covered very sensitively and very beautifully the kidney cancer journey that I went through a couple of years ago, so I feel like we’ve been through a lot together. When I reach out to Markos, he turns out his articles in seemingly no time at all, so I decided to get this video done Markos style. Markos, we love you, you’re the best, congratulations. Powerjournalist, baby.”

“I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Markos. Congratulations, man, on this amazing honor, ‘Journalist of the Year.’ What an amazing honor to be bestowed upon you. You’ve always been so amazingly kind to myself and my family, I’m so grateful, eucharisto para poli. Everybody have a great night. Yasou from Las Vegas,” said Criss Angel, world-renowned magician, prior to taking the stage at Planet Hollywood for his “Mindfreak” show.

“Hey Markos, it’s your buddy Gilles Marini. I am here to congratulate you on behalf of the Hellenic News and the Hermes Expo on the ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award. I am so proud of you. I will talk to you very soon. Congratulations, this is from the bottom of my heart. Peace, brother,” said actor Gilles Marini.

“Hi, what’s up Markos. I just want to say congratulations on the 2021 ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award on behalf of the Hellenic News of America and the Hermes Expo. Well deserved. I also want to thank you for being a true friend, supporter, and amazing journalist,” exclaimed Kristos Andrews, 11-time Emmy award-winning actor, producer and co-director of “The Bay.” 

Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Andrew remarked, “Congratulations Markos on your 2021 ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award on behalf of the Hellenic News of America and the Hermes Expo. I am super stoked for you, not only because you are a friend of mine, but you are an incredible journalist. Something that I’ve always loved most about you is that each time you speak to an athlete or myself, it’s genuine and it’s authentic. You want to give our story, and you hear our words, and you put an incredible piece together that not only portrays our heart but our passion and our purpose in the words we say. I really appreciate that, and in your journalism and in you. I am honored to present this award to you on behalf of these wonderful people and I am looking forward to seeing you around. Cheers!”

“Congratulations Markos, you’ve always been supportive to me, my career, and to ‘State of Mind,’ and I appreciate it. Congratulations man, you deserve it 100 times over,” said Maurice Benard, three-time Emmy award-winning lead actor of “General Hospital.”

“Congratulations to you on your ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award on behalf of the Hermes Expo and the Hellenic News of America. Honestly, I am not surprised that you won, being the Powerjournalist and all. I am glad that you are being recognized. You help push the passion projects of so many and the fact that you are being recognized for your good work is just amazing. Congratulations again, and here’s to another decade of doing the same thing,” said Mike Manning, Emmy award-winning actor and producer of “The Bay.”

“Yiasas, hello everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate my dear friend Markos Papadatos on behalf of the 30th annual Hermes Expo and Hellenic News of America for honoring him and for naming him ‘Best Greek Journalist of 2021.’ I would like to say that in my eyes and in my book, Markos is the best journalist in 2021, 2020 and 2019, and any years in the past, and any years in the future. He is always the No. 1 journalist to me. I love you Markos, sigharitiria agapi mou. I will see you soon, congraulations,” said Debbie Matenopoulos, Emmy-nominated TV host, lifestyle expert, and personality.

“On behalf of the Hermes Expo, I want to congratulate Mr. Markos for winning ‘Journalist of the Year,’ I am not surprised at all. He is by far, the hardest-working human I ever met in my life with an amazing heart. It is well-deserved, I love you man and I am so proud of you. All the love and support that you’ve shown me since I’ve met you has been well and far beyond. I just want to say ‘congratulations’ and I love you man and you deserve it,” said model and actor Erik Fellows.

Watching Markos Papadatos in action is like watching “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix. His professionalism, efficiency, grace, class, and lightning-fast turnaround rate put him in a league of his own in contemporary journalism. At this rate, Papadatos is bound to have an award and accolade for every square of the 64-piece chess board.

To learn more about award-winning Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos, follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thepowerjournalist/?hl=en