An annual Newspaper of the Year award has been cancelled after it failed to receive a single entry.

The Kent Press & Broadcast Awards has announced it has withdrawn the Kent Newspaper of the Year category for this year’s event after nobody entered.

Last year, Iliffe Media weekly the Kent Messenger claimed the prize.

Almost 100 entries were received across 14 other categories and the shortlist has now been revealed ahead of the awards ceremony next month.

Rachel Knight, director at awards organiser Maxim PR, said: “Once again the independent panel of judges was impressed by the high standard of entries across the board, which led to a lot of lively discussion on judging day.

“We’re grateful to the judges for giving their time to review every single entry, and we’re grateful to all of Kent’s journalists for the work they do – especially in these challenging times.”

This year the awards will be hosted by BBC news presenter Martine Croxall, as the event returns to Kent County Cricket Club’s Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, on Friday 14 July.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Le Shuttle
Colin Campbell, BBC South East Today
Joe Coshan, ITV News Meridian
Josie Hannett, BBC South East Today
Kit Bradshaw, ITV News Meridian
Sarah Saunders, ITV News Meridian

Kent Columnist of the Year, sponsored by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
Claire Campbell, The Isle of Thanet News
Ed McConnell, KentOnline
Steven Keevil, Local Authority
Susan McGowan, Kent Life

Kent Designer of the Year, sponsored by Style Brands
Ashley Austen, KM Media Group
Jonathan Brewer, BBC South East Today
Lorna Morris, insideKENT/A Kentish Ceremony/Kent Staycation/Wine Garden of England Handbook
Rhodri Andrews, KMTV

Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Broadcast), sponsored by Shepherd Neame
Derek Johnson, ITV News Meridian
Jadzia Samuel, KMTV
Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent
Tony Green, ITV News Meridian

Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print & Online), sponsored by MHA
Chris Hunter, KentOnline & Kent Messenger Series
Max Chesson, KentOnline
Rhys Griffiths, KentOnline
Stuart Maisner, BBC website & BBC South East social media

Kent Image of the Year, sponsored by Southeastern
Frank Leppard, freelance
Rhys Griffiths, KentOnline
Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline
Sarah Bond, Times of Tunbridge Wells

Kent Magazine of the Year, sponsored by Stagecoach South East
‘Cene
insideKENT
Kent Staycation
West Kent Sport & Wellbeing

Kent New Journalist of the Year, sponsored by EKC Group
Bartholomew Hall, Kent Tonight
Daniel Esson, KM Media Group
Millie Bowles, Thanet Extra & Kentish Gazette Series
Ruth Cassidy, KentOnline & Kentish Gazette

Kent News Website of the Year, sponsored by Port of Dover
ITV News Meridian
KentOnline
Local Authority
Localsportsnews.co.uk

Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Ashford Designer Outlet
Alex Jee, KentOnline
Brad Harper, Kentish Gazette Series & Thanet Extra
Jack Dyson, Kentish Gazette
Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News

Kent Programme of the Year, sponsored by Digitom video production
BBC South East Today
Generation Genome, KMTV
ITV News Meridian
The Hit List, kmfm

Kent Scoop of the Year, sponsored by Panattoni
Gerry Warren, Kentish Gazette & KentOnline
Joe Coshan, ITV News Meridian
Kathy Bailes, The Isle of Thanet News

The Neil Bell Kent Sports Journalist of the Year, supported by Kent Cricket
Ben Watts, BBC Radio Kent
James Dunn, BBC South East Today
Jon Phipps & Matt Gerrard, Kent Non-League Podcast
Steve Rowley, West Kent Sport & Wellbeing

Kent Voices Award, sponsored by BAE Systems
Hedi Mehrez, Kent Live
KentLive
Megan Samrai, ITV News Meridian
Sofia Akin, KMTV