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Winners of the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2016 announced

July, 2016

More than 100 guests gathered to celebrate the best of the county’s media at the second Kent Press & Broadcast Awards ceremony.

Held at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, the scheme organised by Kent PR agency Maxim saw 15 winners, 13 highly commended and a special commendation awarded across 14 categories.

The entries are judged by a panel of experts consisting of Susie Boniface, a national journalist better known as Fleet Street Fox; PA photographer Gareth Fuller; sports journalist and lecturer Paul Majendie; digital consultant Patrick Fuller; journalist and lecturer Dr Sarah Lonsdale; and award-winning TV producer Martyn Gregory.

Maxim’s Rachel Knight commented: “We were really pleased to have another great response to the scheme which attracted 147 entries from more than 100 individuals – with Kent Young Journalist of the Year the most popular of the categories. It led to some feisty conversations among the judges and because the standard was so high, they picked two winners with very different skills.”

The judges said Kent Young Journalist of the Year was ‘the strongest category by a mile’, the entries were exhilarating to read and asked ‘how can you say print is dead when this is the future of journalism?’

Regional journalism is the lifeblood of journalism

The award ceremony was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Cathy Newman. Currently one of Channel 4 News’ main studio presenters, Cathy regularly writes for the Telegraph and has extensive experience in print media.

Speaking at the ceremony, she said: “Regional journalism is the lifeblood of journalism and always has been. I think it’s really important that regional journalism continues to receive a good level of investment. There are a lot of pressures at the moment, a lot of competition from online news sources, but I think people still want to read authoritative, local journalism about the community where they live.”

Rachel Knight continued: “As a PR agency it’s really important for us to maintain our relationships with the media but we also wanted to create a fun, celebratory event. Judging by the smiles on the day and the reaction we’ve had since the ceremony I think we’ve done that.

“KPBA is very much a not-for-profit scheme and we couldn’t run it without the support of the 14 sponsors, some of which have already signed up for next year. They seem to enjoy the ceremony as much as the media and we’ve had some excellent feedback on the value of sponsoring an award.”

View a short film of highlights of the ceremony, produced by sponsor Digitom Ltd, and take a look at the official photos on the KPBA website


The full results of the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2016 are as follows:

 

Kent Young Journalist of the Year, sponsored by P&O Ferries

Winner - Jordan Bluer, Dover Express
Winner - Tom Acres, Gravesend Messenger / Dartford Messenger

Finalists
Ben Kennedy, KMTV / KentOnline
Vicky Castle, Kentish Express / Folkestone and Hythe Express


Press Photographer of the Year, sponsored by East Kent College

Winner - Martin Apps, KM Media Group
Highly commended - Gary Browne, KM Media Group

Finalists
Matthew Walker, freelance/KM Media Group
Ruth Cuerden, KM Media Group


Newspaper Design/er of the Year, sponsored by Lightmaker

Winner - Debbie Neech, KM Media Group
Highly commended - Matthew Panting, Kent Messenger/Medway Messenger

Finalists
Ashley Austen, KM Media Group
Canterbury Times


Magazine Designer of the Year, sponsored by Clague Architects

Winner - Kerry Armstrong, Kent Life
Highly commended - Paul Baker, Wow Kent

Finalists
Lynn Fasulo, Verve Magazine
Rowena Cremer-Price, So Magazine/Gastro Magazine


Kent Columnist of the Year, sponsored by Arriva Southern Counties

Winner - Alex Claridge (Harry Bell Column), Kentish Gazette Series
Highly commended - June Murphy, Dover Express

Finalists
The Codgers’ Club, Medway Messenger
Nikki White, Medway Messenger


Campaign of the Year, sponsored by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Winner - Kent & Sussex Courier – Let’s Change Gear
Highly commended - Kent on Sunday – Blood Contamination Scandal

Finalists
Kentish Gazette – Tannery Fire Appeal
Kent Messenger – Give the Gift of Friendship 


Best Use of Social Media, sponsored by Eurotunnel

Winner - KentOnline / Kent Messenger
Highly commended - BBC South East

Finalists
KMfm
Paul Francis, KentOnline / KMTV


Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket

Winner - Neil Bell, BBC South East
Highly commended - Steve Tervet, Folkestone & Hythe Express / Gravesend Messenger

Finalists
Luke Cawdell, Medway Messenger
Sam Inkersole, Dover Express/Folkestone Herald/Ashford Herald/Canterbury Times


Kent Feature Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Saga

Winner - Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent
Highly commended - Jane Bakowski, Kent & Sussex Courier

Finalists
Derek Johnson, ITV Meridian
Suz Elvey, Kent Messenger / KentOnline


Kent Print Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Benenden Hospital Trust

Winner - Lizzie Massey, Gravesend Messenger/Dartford Messenger/Medway Messenger
Highly commended - Jodie Nesling, Isle of Thanet Gazette

Finalists
Amy-Clare Martin, Kent & Sussex Courier
Jamie Rose, Ashford Herald and Maidstone & Medway News


Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Barretts Motor Group

Winner - Bryony MacKenzie, BBC South East
Highly commended - John Ryall, ITV Meridian
Special commendation - Josie Hannett, KMTV / KentOnline

Finalists
Derek Johnson, ITV Meridian
Mark Norman, BBC South East


Kent Digital Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Digitom Ltd

Winner - Gareth Arnold, KentOnline
Highly commended - Annabel Rusbridge-Thomas, Kent Messenger

Finalists
Jamie Rose, Ashford Herald / Maidstone & Medway News
Suz Elvey, Kent Messenger / KentOnline


Kent Magazine of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover

Winner - Kent Life
Highly commended - Bygone Kent

Finalists
insideKENT
Wealden Times


Kent Newspaper of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern

Winner - Dover Express
Highly commended - Dartford Messenger and Gravesend Messenger

Finalists
Medway Messenger

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