The shortlist for a new awards scheme set up to celebrate the best of press and media in Kent has been announced.

As previously reported on HTFP the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, organised by PR and marketing agency Maxim, are set to be handed out for the very first time this year.

A total of 12 categories are up for grabs – including newspaper of the year. journalist of the year and campaign of the year.

The awards attracted a total of 143 entries and the winners will be announced in a ceremony hosted by broadcaster Peter Sissons at Kent County Cricket Club’s Canterbury headquarters, on Friday 3 July.

An independent panel of judges, all with Kent connections and including Susie Boniface, aka Fleet Street Fox, Haymarket’s Patrick Fuller, journalist and lecturer Dr Sarah Lonsdale and award-winning TV producer Martyn Gregory, drew up the shortlist of finalists.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Kent newspaper of the year – sponsored by Southeastern

Dover Express
Gravesend Messenger
Kent Messenger
Kent on Sunday
Sevenoaks Chronicle

Press photographer of the year – sponsored by P&O Ferries

Gary Browne, KM Group
Andy Jones, Folkestone Herald/Dover Express
Andy Payton, KM Group
Matthew Walker, KM Group/freelance
John Westhrop, KM Group

Kent feature journalist of the year – sponsored by Chapel Down

Nashreen Issa, ITV Meridian
Sarah Linney, Kent on Sunday
Hayley Robinson, Sittingbourne News Extra/Sittingbourne Messenger
Jamie Weir, Kent on Sunday

Kent broadcast journalist of the year – sponsored by FSB Kent & Medway

Colin Campbell, BBC South East
Mark Norman, BBC South East
Andrea Thomas, ITV Meridian
Rebecca Williams, BBC South East

Kent sports journalist of the year – supported by Kent Cricket

Neil Bell, BBC South East
Steve Tervet, KM Group
Jamie Weir, Kent on Sunday
Dan Wright, Whitstable Gazette

Newspaper/magazine design(er) of the year – sponsored by ifour

Ashley Austen, KM Group
insideKent
Debbie Neech, KM Group
WOW magazine

Campaign of the year – sponsored by Digitom

Kent & Sussex Courier – Birthing Centre
Kentish Gazette – Think Again
Kmfm – Legal Highs
Sevenoaks Chronicle – Lizzy Yarnold

Kent young journalist of the year – sponsored by East Kent College

Bess Browning, Faversham News
Vicky Castle, Kentish Express
Sean-Paul Doran, Kent & Sussex Courier
Clare Freeman, Medway Messenger
Amy-Clare Martin, Kent & Sussex Courier

Online news service of the year – sponsored by Barretts Motor Group

ITV Meridian
Kent Online

Best use of social media – sponsored by Cripps

BBC South East
Sean-Paul Doran, Kent & Sussex Courier
insideKENT
Kent Online

Kent magazine of the year – sponsored by Safer Kent

Kent Life
SO Magazine
WOW magazine

Kent journalist of the year – sponsored by Port of Dover

Gareth Arnold, Kent Online
Colin Campbell, BBC South East
Sean-Paul Doran, Kent & Sussex Courier
Chris Pragnell, Kentish Gazette
Rebecca Williams, BBC South East