KentOnline has been crowned Kent's news website of the year.

It was announced earlier this afternoon the KentOnline news team had scooped the top prize at the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards (KPBA).

The website also won best use of digital media.

Head of news, Nicola Everett said: "I am so proud of everyone."

Judges said: “KentOnline is a behemoth – it’s head and shoulders above the rest with quality, coherent stories.

"We were impressed with the sheer variety of ways in which KentOnline uses digital. Overall, their use of multimedia was excellent all round.”

And Kentish Gazette won the prestigious Kent newspaper of the year.

The paper covers the city of Canterbury and judges said: “We were impressed with the paper’s campaigns, the many exclusives and the way they hold authority to account.”

Medway Messenger was highly commended for its 'solid, ace local paper'.

Now in its fifth year, the awards are open to anyone involved in the media in the county.

Organised by Maxim, a leading marketing agency, the awards feature 15 categories judged by an independent panel of editorial experts.

The KM Media Group had a hefty 26 nominations this year.

After enjoying a three-course meal at The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence in Canterbury, winners were announced by host, Nina Hossain.

Kent print journalist of the year has been named as Sean Axtell.

Judges said: “Sean was ‘a standout winner’. He is exactly what you want in a local reporter as he holds power to account and has managed to change policy.”

kmfm news won Kent media innovation of the year.

Judges said: “Using voice devices is not an easy thing to do - kmfm is pioneering.”

KMTV was highly commended for the award.

Judges said: "We were impressed that following KMTV’s input into the development of the Mojo reportor app.

"It’s now being used nationwide by other news organisations.”

Food programme, Kent Cooks was also highly commended for Kent programme of the year.

Judges loved the way the show was shot and produced and liked the news angle of looking at local goods.

Dave Hobday has been named designer of the year for his work at Folkestone & Hythe Express and Gravesend Messenger.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the judge for this category, said: "As newspaper design can lack flexibility these days, we were impressed with the way Dave made the most of the space allocated."

The Neil Bell highly commended Kent sports journalist of the year is Steve Tervet.

Judge, Kent County Cricket Club, said: "Steve’s stories were well-written, showed experience, and we were impressed some had been picked up nationally.”

Rachel Dixon has won Kent columnist of the year for Dixon Dares, for which Rachel tries out new activities in the county including bee keeping and netball.

“Rachel has an engaging, personal and individual style, showing promise for the future. Her ‘Dixon Dares’ brand adds value to the paper.”, said Chamber of Commerce for Kent.

Ed McConnell was highly commended.

Judges said: “We liked the fact Ed covers local and national issues across a broad range of subjects but most of all, that he has an opinion.”

Reporter John Nurden bagged the commitment to the community award this year.

“John embodies the phrase ‘commitment to the community’ and has made real changes on the patch he serves.” said the judges.

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