The company, which has news publishing centres throughout Kent, was short-listed in four categories recognising its print and internet operations.
The Environmental Newspaper Company award identified the KM Group’s commitment to the environment including in:
* the supply and disposal of materials used to produce newspapers
* the development of the company’s new office at Wraik Hill, Whitstable
* its digital newspapers service, which offers 21 titles online
* green community initiatives such as the KM Walking Bus
KM Group Operations Director Duncan Gray (pictured) said: “This is a very satisfying award to win because it’s an area of our business we have worked very hard to improve. It was also rewarding to find ourselves in such elite company.”
The company beat off competition from the Guardian Print Centre, Trinity Mirror Printing and Trafford Park Printers to win the award.
The KM Group was the only regional media group to be short-listed in the Electronic News Site of the Year category with its news website www.kentonline.co.uk.Joint winners in this category were bbc.co.uk and timesonline.co.uk. Others short-listed were ft.com, guardian.co.uk, telegraph.co.uk and belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
Online Editor Sandra Hembery said: “We were honoured to be short-listed among such heavyweight news producers. For a regional news website to be punching above its weight in this way is a real achievement.”
KM Group’s Kent Messenger newspaper was also the only regional newspaper short-listed in the Most Outstanding Use of Colour category. Other titles short-listed were The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer and The Sunday Times.
