A county’s best journalists have been honoured at an annual awards held in a virtual ceremony.

The sixth annual Kent Press & Broadcast Awards ceremony took a different shape this year as the winners of more than 30 awards were announced via video.

The annual July event was postponed and then rearranged to ensure the winners could be safely recognised on Friday.

The awards are organised by Kent-based PR and marketing agency Maxim, with account director Rachel Knight and director Andrew Metcalf taking on the challenge of hosting the ceremony.

Rachel said: “Our previous awards ceremonies have been hosted by well-known faces from the media industry but the pandemic meant that wasn’t possible this year.

“So instead of attempting to live up to Cathy Newman’s professionalism or Simon McCoy’s light-hearted delivery, we decided to be ourselves: we opened a bottle of wine, opened some envelopes announcing the winners and had a socially distant laugh.

“I’m not sure anyone will be inviting us to be the next stars of the small screen, but the feedback has been great.

“There was so much excitement when the shortlist was announced, and to be able to make a fuss of the finalists and in particular the winners at a time when we could all do with a little cheer was really important to us.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Use of Digital Media, sponsored by Eurotunnel
Lizzie Massey, BBC South East (Digital)

Kent Magazine of the Year
’cene Magazine

The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Juliette Parkin, BBC South East Today

Commitment to the Community, sponsored by Saga
The Isle of Thanet News

Kent Designer of the Year
Jonathan Brewer, BBC South East Today

Kent Media Innovation of the Year, sponsored by BAE Systems
Mark Simmonite, KMTV

Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (print), sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Jack Dyson, Kentish Gazette

Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (broadcast), sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Claudia Sermbezis, BBC South East Today

Kent Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Brachers
Andy Jones, freelance

Kent Columnist of the Year
Jane Wenham-Jones, The Isle of Thanet News

Kent Print Journalist of the Year
Lydia Chantler-Hicks, Kentish Gazette

Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Josie Hannett, BBC South East Today

Kent News Website of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover
KentOnline

Kent Newspaper of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern
Kentish Gazette

Kent Programme of the Year, sponsored by Digitom Video Production
BBC South East Today

Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by EKC Group
Brad Harper, Kentish Gazette

The Golden Pen Award
Shepway Vox

The Golden Microphone Award
Samuel Supple