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June, 2025
Hosted by Maryam Moshiri, a chief presenter at BBC News, the winners of the 11th annual Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA) were selected from among 140 entries received across 16 categories, by a team of eight independent judges who have many years of media experience.
The not-for-profit award scheme, which recognises and rewards the media’s commitment to serving local communities, is organised by Maxim, the Kent PR and marketing agency celebrating 30 years of being in business.
The finalists and sponsors welcomed Maryam Moshiri who gave an insight into her journey in journalism, which includes her show The World Today on the BBC’s news channel, which broadcasts to more than 100 million viewers around the world.
This year, the Golden Microphone award was won by Derek Johnson and Siobhan Hart of ITV News Meridian for their year-long digital journalism project, covering the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The pair filmed 100 interviews with veterans which were all uploaded to a specially-commissioned ITV webpage.
The Golden Pen award was awarded to Megan Carr, who works on KentOnline and Sheerness Times Guardian, for how she told her own story after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The judges congratulated Megan for what was an extremely well-written piece of editorial content.
Commenting at the event, Maxim Director Rachel Knight said: “We want to thank everyone who made this year’s ceremony such a success. Maryam was a fantastic host and we’ve already had some great feedback. Knowing how much KPBA means to people and seeing such big smiles on the day makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“A big thank you must also go to the generous sponsors, who recognise the important role the press still plays in our communities, without them we couldn’t run the awards.
“And last but definitely not least, these awards wouldn’t have been possible without our judges who give up their free time and we are so grateful for their support.”
To ensure the awards retain their reputation Maxim recruits independent judges from across the media. This year’s panel comprised Susie Boniface, a national journalist known as Fleet Street Fox; Elaine Bruce, a former BBC News journalist and editor; Sian Elvin, a national journalist and editor; Anthony France, crime correspondent for the Evening Standard; Rebecca Smith, former senior editor for Kent Regional News and Media; John Warnett, a retired radio journalist with more than 30 years’ experience; Leo Whitlock, a former local newspaper journalist for more than 20 years, much of which was spent at the KM Media Group; and Adrian Wills, a former newspaper and ITV broadcast journalist.
The highly commended and winners of the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2025.
The results of the 16 categories are below:
Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Le Shuttle
Kent Broadcast Presenter of the Year, sponsored by CPL Films
Kent Design(er) of the Year, sponsored by Ashford Designer Outlet
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print & Online), sponsored by MHA
Kent Investigation of the Year, sponsored by Panattoni
Kent Magazine of the Year, sponsored by Stagecoach South East
Kent Making it Happen Award, sponsored by Gallagher Group
Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by East Kent Colleges Group
Kent News Website of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover
Kent Newspaper of the Year, sponsored by Southern Water
Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Caxtons
Kent Programme of the Year, sponsored by Countrystyle Recycling
Kent Story of the Year, sponsored by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Kent Voices Award, sponsored by Southeastern
Golden Pen
Golden Microphone
The awards event took place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, on Friday 20 June. For more information on the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, visit www.kpbawards.co.uk.
posted in: maxim/client news, media relations,
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April, 2013 more
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Delphine crowned tourism champion
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'Off the record' - does it really work?
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Crisis comms must have sound foundations
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October, 2011 more
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September, 2011 more
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