During his speech at the ceremony, Mr Sobyanin remarked that the recipients deserved their awards for their hard and honest work.

Mr Sobyanin believes that the print media reflect overall public opinion and at the same time are a powerful tool for influencing the public.

After remarking on its promising outlook and popularity, Mr Sobyanin said that the print media serve as "the bedrock of journalism and a model of style and quality."

In his opinion, "whatever innovations technological progress may bring to the media, be they the Internet or interactive television, newspapers and periodicals will remain irreplaceable."

Sergei Sobyanin's speech at the ceremony:

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy to welcome you to the annual government award ceremony for the print media.

First of all, I would like to congratulate all recipients, and wish them further professional success. I am sure that they will continue to be successful.

Those who have gathered in this hall today not only have significant experience in journalism, but are also leaders in their field. Your creative potential is far from exhausted.

You have earned these awards through hard and honest work. I am confident that recognition of your merits by the government will serve as a worthy incentive for greater progress, progress to new heights. All the more so since journalism requires permanent development and an energetic outlook on life.

Whatever innovations technological progress may bring to the media, be they the Internet or interactive television, newspapers and periodicals will remain irreplaceable. I am sure that this well-know way of receiving information, which is beloved by millions, will never become obsolete. The print media will always have a devoted and vast audience and, hence, a future.

The promising future and popularity of the print media are obvious. The print media serve as the bedrock of journalism and a model of style and quality. It is here that many fundamental traditions of professional journalism take shape.

For all the diversity of modern information resources, it is the so-called writing journalists and photo correspondents who form the elite of the journalistic profession and through their work affirm its high social importance.

The print media reflect overall public opinion, and at the same time are a powerful tool for influencing the public, affecting many people's affairs and daily life, and influencing their opinions as citizens.

All this gives you a special responsibility. You and your colleagues must exercise strict self-control and be far-sighted and unbiased. You must be very sensitive to what is truly important for your readers.

Today's award recipients meet these criteria in full measure. Much credit goes to them for their contribution to economic and humanitarian development and the strengthening of moral values and patriotism in society.

The newspaper Sovetskaya Sibir's informational and social projects have become an important contribution to the Year of the Family in Russia.

Vvedenskaya Storona, a bastion of the intellectual and artistic development, has made a tangible contribution to the preservation and promotion of the country's cultural heritage.

Such well-known publications as Literaturnaya Gazeta and Argumenty i Fakty have confirmed their long-standing reputation as quality, social-oriented press outlets.

I am grateful to all award winners for their work in the print media, for their active civil position and a striving to bring substantial benefit to Russia and its people.

Allow me to congratulate you once again and let's start the award ceremony.