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July, 2023
The winners of the ninth annual Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA) were selected by a team of eight independent judges, who reviewed almost 100 entries across 14 categories.
Organised by Kent PR and marketing agency Maxim, the not-for-profit award scheme recognises and celebrates local journalism and the media’s commitment to serving local communities.
The ceremony took place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury on Friday 14 July.
The results in full were:
Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Le Shuttle
Winner: Josie Hannett, BBC South East Today
Highly commended: Joe Coshan, ITV News Meridian
Finalists:
Colin Campbell, BBC South East Today
Kit Bradshaw, ITV News Meridian
Sarah Saunders, ITV News Meridian
Kent Columnist of the Year, sponsored by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Steven Keevil, Local Authority
Highly commended: Susan McGowan, Kent Life
Finalists:
Claire Campbell, The Isle of Thanet News
Ed McConnell, KentOnline
Kent Designer of the Year, sponsored by Style Brands
Winner: Jonathan Brewer, BBC South East Today
Highly commended: Ashley Austen, KM Media Group
Finalists:
Lorna Morris, insideKENT/A Kentish Ceremony/Kent Staycation/Wine Garden of England Handbook
Rhodri Andrews, KMTV
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Winner: Derek Johnson, ITV News Meridian
Highly commended: Tony Green, ITV News Meridian
Finalists:
Jadzia Samuel, KMTV
Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print & Online), sponsored by MHA
Winner: Stuart Maisner, BBC website & BBC South East social media
Highly commended: Chris Hunter, KentOnline & Kent Messenger Series
Finalists:
Max Chesson, KentOnline
Rhys Griffiths, KentOnline
Kent Image of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern
Winner: Frank Leppard, freelance
Highly commended: Rhys Griffiths, KentOnline
Finalists:
Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline
Sarah Bond, Times of Tunbridge Wells
Kent Magazine of the Year, sponsored by Stagecoach South East
Winner: ‘Cene
Highly commended: West Kent Sport & Wellbeing
Finalists:
insideKENT
Kent Staycation
Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by EKC Group
Winner: Millie Bowles, Thanet Extra & Kentish Gazette Series
Highly commended: Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline & Kentish Gazette
Finalists:
Bartholomew Hall, Kent Tonight
Daniel Esson, KM Media Group
Kent News Website of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover
Winner: Local Authority
Highly commended: ITV News Meridian
Finalists:
KentOnline
Localsportsnews.co.uk
Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Ashford Designer Outlet
Winner: Jack Dyson, Kentish Gazette
Highly commended: Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News
Finalists:
Alex Jee, KentOnline
Brad Harper, Kentish Gazette Series & Thanet Extra
Kent Programme of the Year, sponsored by Digitom video production
Winner: ITV News Meridian
Highly commended: BBC South East Today
Finalists:
Generation Genome, KMTV
The Hit List, kmfm
Kent Scoop of the Year, sponsored by Panattoni
Winner: Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News
Highly commended: Joe Coshan, ITV News Meridian
Finalist:
Gerry Warren, Kentish Gazette & KentOnline
The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Winner: James Dunn, BBC South East Today
Highly commended: Steve Rowley, West Kent Sport & Wellbeing
Finalists:
Ben Watts, BBC Radio Kent
Jon Phipps & Matt Gerrard, Kent Non-League Podcast
Kent Voices Award, sponsored by BAE Systems
Winner: Sofia Akin, KMTV
Highly commended: KentLive
Finalists:
Hedi Mehrez, Kent Live
Megan Samrai, ITV News Meridian
This year, two further awards were presented for entries that really stood out, but didn’t win the category they were shortlisted for. The Golden Pen 2023 was awarded to Rhys Griffiths of KentOnline, and the Golden Microphone 2023 was presented to Colin Campbell of BBC South East Today.
Commenting at the event, Maxim Director Rachel Knight said: “Congratulations to everyone who attended the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2023. There were some very worthy winners and the expert judges were impressed by every finalist who was invited along to the event.
“These awards wouldn’t have been possible without those judges giving up their free time, we are grateful for their support. We also need to thank the generous sponsors. As KPBA is a not-for-profit event, we really couldn’t put these awards on without them.”
The judging panel comprises Adrian Wills, former newspaper and broadcast journalist; Anthony France, national and international journalist and editor; Elaine Bruce, former BBC senior journalist and news and features producer; John Warnett, former journalist and radio presenter; Leo Whitlock, a local newspaper journalist for more than 20 years, much of which was spent at the KM Media Group; Rebecca Smith, former senior editor for Kent Regional News and Media; Sian Elvin, national journalist and editor and a former KPBA Kent Young Journalist of the Year; and Susie Boniface, a national journalist known as Fleet Street Fox.
For more information on the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, visit www.kpbawards.co.uk.
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