An independent publisher scooped seven prizes at an awards ceremony honouring journalism in the county it serves.
The KM Group won six awards outright at the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, while Kent Messenger reporter Tom Acres shared the Young Journalist of the Year Accolade with Jordan Bluer, of the Dover Express.
Individual winners working for the KM Group included PRint Journalist of the Year Lizzie Massey, Digital Journalist of the Year Gareth Arnold, Press Photographer of the Year Martin Apps, Newspaper Designer of the Year Debbie Neach and Columnist of the Year Alex Claridge.
The group’s Kent Online website also won the Best Use of Social Media award at Friday’s ceremony, held in Canterbury.
Trinity Mirror weekly the Dover Express won Newspaper of the Year, while the Kent & Sussex Courier won Campaign of the Year for its ‘Let’s Change Gear’ drive.
The awards, now in their second year, are organised by PR company Maxim.
The full results 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
Kent 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