The local newspaper where investigations are alive and kicking every week
An investigation two years in the making is among the reasons the Kentish Gazette was honoured at the Regional Press Awards.
The Iliffe Media title scooped Small News Brand of the Year at the relaunched RPAs, held in London earlier this month.
“The Kentish Gazette went to huge lengths to ensure he didn’t become a faceless statistic,” said judges.
“Two years of forensic probing revealed his name, his family in Lithuania — and a catalogue of police errors.
“The investigation typifies the paper’s approach, which is to tell the human stories behind the facts and figures, and to try to effect positive change.”
In its entry to the awards, the Gazette team revealed the impact their work had.
They said: “His family told us they could not understand how no one had been held responsible for his death. Despite still searching for justice, they took great comfort in knowing the story of Eduardas Zaicas had finally been told.”
It was far from the only example showcased at the Awards from the Kentish Gazette.
When Daniel Ezzedine, a German student, was left brain-damaged after an attack by a gang on a visit to Canterbury, the paper raised £15,000 to help pay for intensive therapy, and kept readers abreast of his progress.
His brother told the Gazette: “Thanks to your help we have the possibility to rent a small gym a few times a week, where Daniel can improve and strengthen his skills.”
Four months after the appeal, the Gazette brought readers the news that Daniel had been able to take his first steps since the attack.
And as part of its End the Stigma campaign it spoke to mothers who have lost children through suicide, to encourage others to have potentially life-saving conversations.
Judges added: “The Gazette is also adept at finding a local, human angle on big topical issues — such as the environment, transphobia and migrant crossings.”
They cited a feature on a businessman with a burgeoning restaurant empire, who the government tried to deport after he fled Turkey at the age of 18 due to the bigotry and torture he endured as a Kurd, as one example.
Judges said: “It takes justified pride in its undercover investigations — of, for instance, a black market in illegal vaping blighting Canterbury city centre, and Airbnb owners breaching Covid rules by letting out their properties during lockdowns.”
Joe Walker, a senior editor for the Kentish Gazette and KentOnline, said: “I’m delighted to see the hard work of our talented team of journalists recognised.
“It’s testament to their drive to go the extra mile every week to provide the high quality, in-depth journalism so valued by our readers.”
Iliffe Media’s Cambridge Independent was highly commended in the same category, as was the Impartial Reporter, a Newsquest title.
London indepdent titles the Camden New Journal and sibling Islington Tribune were bothshortlisted, along with Evening Express in Aberdeen, the Kent Messengr (also owned by Iliffe Media), and the Ulster Herald.
