Dan Bloom is Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year

Reporter Dan Bloom was named Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year at an awards lunch held at the Faversham brewery, celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the Kent Media Awards.

Over the years, judges have included newspaper editor Lord Deedes and TV quizmaster Bob Holness.

More than 100 guests listened to a talk from Ann Barnes, the recently-elected Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. The event also welcomed Christine Finn, the first Kent Journalist of the Year in 1988, and now a freelance reporter and presenter, contributing to BBC Radio 4, the Sunday Times and the Guardian.

Judges described Kent Journalist of the Year winner Dan Bloom, from the Medway Messenger, who also won the Newspaper Journalist of the Year category, as “a journalist whose breadth of work, determination, ability and dedication has produced some tremendous stories”.

Kent Online won the Shepherd Neame News Service of the Year Award, judges commenting: “It presents a wonderful mix of written copy, imagery, great interaction with users via social media, all the result of talented journalists working well as a team.”

Other winners included:

• Bishops Finger Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year – Colin Campbell, BBC South East Today
• Master Brew Kent Feature Journalist of the Year – Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent
• Spitfire Kent Sports Journalist of the Year Award – Chris Britcher, Kent on Sunday
• WF Deedes Kent Young Journalist of the Year – Jess Banham, KM Group

The Kent & Sussex Courier won the Canterbury Jack Campaign of the Year Award for its successful campaign to secure government funding for improvements to the A21.

This year’s awards were judged by a panel comprising former BBC Radio Kent broadcaster Barbara Sturgeon; Kim Fletcher, former editorial director of the Telegraph Group and chairman of the NCTJ; Tim Luckhurst, professor of journalism at the University of Kent and a former editor of The Scotsman; and Justin Allen, from the sports desk of The Sun.

The event was held in Shepherd Neame’s entertainment venue The Old Brewery Store. The awards were presented by Jonathan Neame DL, chief executive of Shepherd Neame.
 

Journalist of the Year
Dan Bloom, Medway Messenger

Newspaper Journalist of the Year
Dan Bloom, Medway Messenger

Highly Commended
Gerry Warren, Kentish Gazette

Young Journalist of the Year
Jess Banham, KM Group

Highly Commended
Mike Sims, Folkestone Herald
Dean Kilpatrick, Kent on Sunday

Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Colin Campbell, BBC South East

Feature Journalist of the Year
Jo Burn, BBC Radio Kent

Highly Commended
Lesley Bellew, KM Group

Sports Journalist of the Year
Chris Britcher, Kent on Sunday

Highly Commended
Jack Wilson, Folkestone Herald

Campaign of the Year
Kent and Sussex Courier 
      
News Service of the Year
KentOnline

Highly Commended
ITV Meridian

Contribution To Journalism
Trevor Sturgess