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Independent publisher scoops seven prizes at county’s media awards

Kent-awards-e1431525128492An 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