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July, 2024
The winners of the tenth annual Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA) were selected from among 163 entries received across 16 categories, by a team of eight independent judges who have many years of media experience.
Organised by Kent PR and marketing agency Maxim, the not-for-profit award scheme recognises and rewards the media’s commitment to serving local communities.
New for 2024, the sponsors were joined by charity partners Demelza and Leas Lift, two local organisations selected by the Maxim team as deserving special recognition for their positive impact on their communities.
There were also four new categories: Broadcast Presenter, Investigation, Making it Happen, and Story of the Year. Each new category was created following a survey of previous entrants and discussions with the independent judges to ensure that KPBA continues to remain relevant for the county’s media.
This year, two further awards were presented for entries that really stood out, but which didn’t win the category they were shortlisted for. The Golden Pen was awarded to Kathy Bailes of The Isle of Thanet News, and the Golden Microphone was presented to kmfm for its Tonnes of Tins campaign, which secured the equivalent of 16,000 tins of beans for 18 food banks across the county.
BBC presenter Martine Croxall hosted the awards ceremony.
Maxim was joined in supporting KBPA by Caxtons, CPL Films, East Kent Colleges Group and Gallagher Group, as well as Kent Cricket, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Le Shuttle, MHA, Port of Dover, plus Shepherd Neame and Stagecoach South East.
The awards event took place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury on Friday 26 July.
Commenting at the event, Maxim Director Rachel Knight said: “This year’s awards – which took place a little later than usual due to the General Election – demonstrate that the standard of journalism continues to be strong in Kent. Congratulations to everyone who attended the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2024, and to the worthy winners.
“We also need to thank the generous sponsors, who recognise the important role that the press plays in our communities. As KPBA is a not-for-profit event, we really couldn’t run these awards without them.
“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 grateful for their support.”
Recruited from across the media, the 2024 judging panel comprised Adrian Wills, former newspaper and broadcast journalist; Anthony France, national and international journalist and editor; Elaine Bruce, former television 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; and Sian Elvin, national journalist and editor and a former KPBA Kent Young Journalist of the Year.
During the ceremony, Susie Boniface, a national journalist known as Fleet Street Fox, was presented with a gift in recognition of her 10 years of serving on the judging panel.
The highly commended and winners of the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2024.
The 2024 results in full are:
Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Le Shuttle
Winner: Christine Alsford, ITV News Meridian
Highly commended: James Dunham, ITV News Meridian
Finalists:
Kit Bradshaw, ITV News Meridian
Phil Harrison, BBC Radio Kent
Kent Broadcast Presenter of the Year, sponsored by CPL Films
Winner: Claudia Sermbezis, BBC South East
Highly commended: Abby Hook, KMTV
Finalists:
Adam Dowling, BBC Radio Kent
Dominic King, BBC Radio Kent
Kent Designer of the Year, supported by charity partner The Leas Lift
Winner: Rhodri Andrews, KMTV
Highly commended: James Black, KM Media Group
Finalists:
Lizzy Tweedale, Brightside Publishing;
Lorna Morris, Sideways Media
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Winner: Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent
Highly commended: Derek Johnson, ITV News Meridian
Finalists:
Tony Green, ITV News Meridian
Gabriel Morris, KMTV
Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print & Online), sponsored by MHA
Winner: Megan Carr, Sittingbourne News / Sheerness Times Guardian
Highly commended: Keely Greenwood, KentOnline
Finalists:
Max Chesson, KM Media Group
Rhys Griffiths, KentOnline
Kent Investigation of the Year
Winner: Kit Bradshaw, ITV News Meridian
Highly commended: Max Chesson, KM Media Group
Finalists:
Joe Coshan, ITV News Meridian
Megan Carr, Sittingbourne News / Sheerness Times Guardian
Kent Magazine of the Year, sponsored by Stagecoach South East
Winner: Broadstairs Beacon / Folkestone Foghorn / Margate Mercury / Whitstable Whistler
Highly commended: Bygone Kent
Finalists:
‘Cene Magazine
Kent Staycation
Kent Making it Happen Award, sponsored by Gallagher Group
Winner: Toby Winson, ITV News Meridian
Highly commended: Viv Oliver, KMTV
Finalists:
Niki Jacobs, CommunityAd
Roni Glasthal, KMTV
Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by East Kent Colleges Group
Winner: Abby Hook, KMTV
Highly commended: Max Chesson, KM Media Group
Finalists:
Oliver Leonard, KentOnline
Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline / Kentish Gazette Series
Kent News Website of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover
Winner: KentOnline
Highly commended: KentLive
Finalists:
Local Authority
The Isle of Thanet News
Kent Newspaper of the Year
Winner: Folkestone & Hythe Express
Highly commended: Kentish Gazette
Finalists:
Kentish Express
Kent Messenger
Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Caxtons
Winner: Millie Bowles, Kentish Gazette Series / Thanet Extra / KentOnline
Highly commended: Ed Jennings, Local Authority News
Finalists:
Brad Harper, KentOnline
Hedi Mehrez, KentLive
Kent Programme of the Year
Winner: The Huddle, BBC Radio Kent
Highly commended: News Nuggets, KMTV
Finalists:
BBC South East Today
Who’s Caring for the Carers?, ITV Meridian Special
Tonnes of Tins, kmfm
Kent Story of the Year, sponsored by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline / Kentish Gazette Series
Highly commended: Millie Bowles, Kentish Gazette Series / Thanet Extra / KentOnline
Finalists:
Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News;
Megan Carr, Medway Messenger / Sittingbourne News / Sheerness Times Guardian
The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Winner: James Dunn, BBC South East
Highly commended: Matt Cole & Ben Watts, BBC Radio Kent
Finalists:
Bartholomew Hall, KMTV
Christian Fuller, BBC South East
Kent Voices Award, supported by charity partner Demelza
Winner: Brightside Publishing, Clare Freeman
Highly commended: Davina Jethwa, KentOnline
Finalists:
Megan Samrai, ITV News Meridian
Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline / Kentish Gazette Series
Golden Pen – Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News
Golden Microphone – Tonnes of Tins, kmfm
For more information and all the photos of the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards ceremony, visit www.kpbawards.co.uk.
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