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Winners announced for the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2021

September, 2021

The winners of the seventh Kent Press & Broadcast Awards were announced during a virtual ceremony on Friday, 10 September.

Organised by Kent-based PR and marketing agency, Maxim, the awards recognise the best of the county’s media in broadcast, digital and print journalism. 

Maxim’s Andrew Metcalf said: “We’ve really missed seeing all the finalists and sponsors in person, but we had to take a decision about the awards ceremony at the start of 2021, and at the time the safest option was to keep the awards online for one more year.

“We are grateful to all finalists, sponsors and judges for how well they embraced this decision and continued to support the awards. We look forward to hopefully seeing everyone in person again for KPBA 2022.”

 

This year's #KPBA ceremony was held online with a Zoom call for finalists, sponsors and judges.

More than 70 entries were received in nine categories, as for 2021 the number of categories was temporarily reduced to focus on individuals, rather than organisations. The 2020 Award was also added, to recognise the efforts of all journalists to keep their communities informed during the pandemic.

Maxim’s Rachel Knight added: “We were really pleased with the engagement of the awards, in terms of people entering, the judges giving up their time and the sponsors continuing to support us even though they couldn’t come along to a face-to-face event. As a not-for-profit scheme, these awards wouldn’t be possible without their support.” 

The full results are as follows: 

Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Eurotunnel

Winner: Zoie O’Brien, BBC South East
Highly Commended: Claire Starr, BBC South East
Finalists: 
Amanda Akass, BBC South East
Josie Hannett, BBC South East


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

Winner: Seb Reilly, The Isle of Thanet News
Highly Commended: Simon Finlay, Downs Mail
Finalists:
Jane Wenham-Jones, The Isle of Thanet News
Melissa Todd, The Isle of Thanet News 
 

Kent Designer of the Year
Winner: 
Ashley Austen, KM Group
Highly Commended: Jonathan Brewer, BBC South East
Finalists:
MMM Magazine
Paul Acres, KM Media Group


Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Digitom Video Production
Winner: Colin Campbell, BBC South East
Highly Commended: Derek Johnson, ITV Meridian
Finalists: 
Joe Coshan, KMTV
Phil Wellbrook, KMTV


Kent Feature Journalist of the Year, sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Winner: Lydia Chantler-Hicks, Kentish Gazette
Highly Commended: Jack Dyson, Kentish Gazette
Finalists:
Rhys Griffiths, Kent Messenger / KentOnline
Seb Reilly, Broadstairs Beacon 


Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by EKC Group
Winner:    Katya Fowler, KMTV
Highly Commended:    Tommaso Dimiddio, KMTV
Finalists:
Ollie Collins, KMTV
Sean Delaney, Dartford Messenger / Gravesend Messenger


Kent Print Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern
Winner: Jack Dyson, Kentish Gazette
Highly Commended: Katie Heslop, Kent Messenger
Finalists:
Lydia Chantler Hicks, Kentish Gazette
Marijke Hall, Thanet Extra


The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Winner: Juliette Parkin, BBC South East
Highly Commended: Ollie Collins, KMTV
Finalists:
Ben Watts, BBC Radio Kent
Joe Coshan, KMTV


The 2020 Award, sponsored by BAE Systems
Winner: The Isle of Thanet News
Highly Commended: Downs Mail
Finalists:
KMTV
MMM Magazine – NHS Edition 
 

The Kent Press & Broadcast Awards entries are judged by an independent, expert panel consisting of: Susie Boniface, a national journalist known as Fleet Street Fox; digital consultant Patrick Fuller; journalist and lecturer Dr Sarah Lonsdale; Rebecca Smith, former senior editor for Kent Regional News and Media; and Leo Whitlock, a local newspaper journalist for more than 20 years, much of which was spent at the KM Media Group. 

For more information visit www.kpbawards.co.uk or to watch the ceremony in full, click below. 

posted in: maxim/client news,

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