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Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2021 open for entries

March, 2021

The annual Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA), the not-for-profit scheme designed to celebrate and reward local journalism, is now open for entries.

Organised by Tunbridge Wells-based PR and marketing agency Maxim, KPBA is now in its seventh year but, due to the ongoing pandemic, there are some changes for 2021.

Andrew Metcalf, Director at Maxim, said: “We had some great feedback on last year’s awards and we know they meant a lot to the media during a very difficult time. We are determined to go ahead with KPBA but we are having to suspend some categories for this year. We have decided to concentrate primarily on individuals’ achievements and hopefully there is still an opportunity for anyone who wants to enter.”

An independent judging panel reviews every awards entry. The panel consists of Susie Boniface, a national journalist known as Fleet Street Fox; digital consultant Patrick Fuller; Rebecca Smith, former senior editor for Kent Regional News and Media; journalist and lecturer Dr Sarah Lonsdale; and Leo Whitlock, a local newspaper journalist for more than 20 years, much of which was spent at the KM Media Group.

KPBA will culminate in a virtual ceremony on Friday, 10 September 2021.

Andrew continued: “Everybody wants to emerge from the current lockdown as soon as possible, but as Covid doesn’t recognise dates in diaries we still need to be prudent. After successfully taking KPBA virtual last year we felt it safer for everyone concerned – sponsors, judges and finalists – that we do the same this year. We fully intend to return to a face-to-face event in 2022 but, for now, we want to keep everyone safe.”

New for this year is ‘The 2020 Award’ which recognises the efforts made by Kent’s media to serve local communities during the pandemic. It is open to individual journalists as well as organisations.   

Andrew added: “If you’re a journalist who campaigned for something in your community; a media organisation that found a new way to connect to your audience; or maybe you adapted your work to be covid-safe in a way that deserves recognition, The 2020 Award is the one for you.

“KPBA wouldn’t exist without the support of our sponsors so we’re extremely grateful that many return year after year. Despite the fact we had a virtual ceremony in 2020, our sponsors were still very much involved and we would love to hear from organisations that want to show their support for the local media.”

The categories are:

  • Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year
  • Kent Columnist of the Year
  • Kent Design(er) of the Year
  • Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print)
  • Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Digitom
  • Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by EKC Group
  • Kent Print Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern
  • The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year
  • The 2020 Award

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday, 7 May 2021. The entry period for all categories – including The 2020 Award – is 25 April 2020 to 23 April 2021.

To find out more, visit www.kpbawards.co.uk. For information on becoming a category sponsor, contact Rachel Knight on 07941 697601 or email rachel@maxim-pr.co.uk.

posted in: maxim/client news, media relations,

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