Stagecoach South East helps celebrate Kent media

29 Jul 2024

After a record number of entries, the best work of Kent’s media has been celebrated at the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards (KPBA), with Stagecoach South East onboard helping to mark the event's 10th anniversary.

The winners were selected from 163 entries received across 16 categories, by a team of eight independent judges each of whom have many years of media experience. The awards event took place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury on Friday 26 July and was hosted by BBC news presenter Martine Croxall.

Organised by Kent PR and marketing agency Maxim, the not-for-profit award scheme recognises and rewards the media’s commitment to serving local communities. Maxim successfully secured the backing of leading companies from across the county to help make the awards happen.

Stagecoach South East put its name to the Kent Magazine of the Year category, with four of the six titles in the Brightside Publishing stable – Broadstairs Beacon, Folkestone Foghorn, Margate Mercury, and Whitstable Whistler – sharing the top place. History magazine Bygone Kent was highly commended.

Stagecoach South East's Hannah Bland (centre) with the Brightside Publishing team

Stagecoach South East's marketing manager, Hannah Bland (centre) with the Brightside Publishing team, winners of Kent Magazine of the Year

The 2024 awards also featured four new categories: Investigation of the Year, Making it Happen, Story of the Year, and Broadcast Presenter of the Year. Each new category was created following a survey of previous entrants and discussions with the independent judges to ensure that KPBA continues to remain relevant for the county’s media and how it operates.

Also new for 2024, the sponsors were joined by charity partners Demelza and Folkestone Leas Lift, two local organisations selected by the Maxim team as deserving recognition for their positive impact on their communities. They presented the Kent Voices Award and Kent Designer of the Year categories respectively.

Hannah Bland, marketing manager of Stagecoach South East, said: “The county has a strong and dynamic media community as shown by today’s KPBA winners, and we are once again proud to be part of the awards. The Brightside magazines, which celebrate the art, culture, music, business, food and drink of towns around the coast of Kent, are worthy winners. Bygone Kent put in a strong showing and deserved to be highly commended.”

This year, two further awards were presented for entries that really stood out, but which didn’t win the category they were shortlisted for. The Golden Pen was awarded to Kathy Bailes of The Isle of Thanet News, and the Golden Microphone was presented to kmfm for its Tonnes of Tins campaign, which secured the equivalent of 16,000 tins of beans for 18 food banks across the county.

Commenting at the event, Maxim Director Rachel Knight said: “This year’s awards – which took place a little later than usual due to the General Election – demonstrate that the standard of journalism continues to be strong in Kent. Congratulations to everyone who attended the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards 2024, and to the worthy winners.

“We also need to thank the generous sponsors, who recognise the important role that the press plays in our communities. As KPBA is a not-for-profit event, we really couldn’t run these awards without them.

“And last but definitely not least, these awards wouldn’t have been possible without our judges who give up their free time and we are grateful for their support.”

Stagecoach South East was joined in supporting KBPA by Caxtons, CPL Films, East Kent Colleges Group, and Gallagher Group, as well as Kent Cricket, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Eurotunnel LeShuttle, MHA, Port of Dover, and Shepherd Neame.

The 2024 results can be viewed in full here.

BBC News presenter Martine Croxall at the 2024 KPBAs