KentOnline has been crowned website of the year at this year's Kent Press and Broadcast Awards.
Held at The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury and organsied by Maxim, the Kent Messenger was also awarded newspaper of the year.
Winners from the KM at the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards
The awards are judged by a panel of former and current national and local journalists.
They said KentOnline "is challenging audiences in a good way", adding that they found the site easy to navigate, and has a good level of multimedia.
Of the Kent Messenger, the judges described the newspaper as "local journalism at its best" and "the huge variety of stories should be commended."
As well as the two main awards, several reporters were recognised for their work.
These include:
Alex Jee was highly commended for scoop of the year. The judges said: “We liked that Alex persuaded the coroner, it was in the public interest for an inquest recording to be released, and that the story was used nationally."
James Black was highly commended Kent Designer of the Year for his 10th anniversary spread for the Sittingbourne News and they "really loved the Subbuteo spread with a life-sized player!”
James Black's winning entry at the KPBAs
Jack Dyson was highly commended Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print and Online). The judges said his writing is "clever, thoughtful, loving and kind and his stories were sensitively told."
Chris Hunter won Kent Feature Journalist of the Year (Print and Online). He was described as "a cut above all the other entrants. His features were fascinating with great local subjects that had us hooked straightaway."
Marijke Hall was highly commended Kent Print and Online Journalist of the year for her 'solid work' and impressed the judges with her piece on a care home losing residents to Covid
Lydia Chantler-Hicks won Kent Print and Online Journalist. Her accounts "were gripping" and decribed as "proper shoe leather journalism."
Jadzia Samuel won Kent New Journalist of the Year, described as "one to watch" and the judges said "everything she does could go national."
Sheerness Times Guardian was highly commended Kent Newspaper of the Year. The judges said: “The small team at the Sheerness Times Guardian are clearly passionate about the Isle. We liked their community stories and that they’re fighting for what’s right.”
KentOnline was highly commended for Best Use of Digital Media, after using archive pictures combined with graphics and use of Google Earth technology to create "a powerful addition to the Zeebrugge story.”
Two surprise awards of the night were also awarded to the KM Group.
Joe Wright recieved the Golden Pen award. He was recognised for his hour long interview with Damian Aspinall, the boss of Port Lympne and Howletts and a man known for not liking interviews. You can read it here.
The KentOnline Podcast was awarded the Golden Microphone award. The judges were impressed with the growth of downloads throughout the pandemic
