KentOnline

Our team works 365 days a year to bring you independent, fair and in-depth journalism across Kent. You can help us keep doing it by subscribing to KentOnline Premium Your subscription keeps local stories alive, holds power to account, and makes sure our communities are heard. Plus, you’ll enjoy exclusive articles, ad-lite browsing, digital editions, and great subscriber rewards. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/e7FbeDsR

🎉 We are thrilled to share that KentOnline has been named Regional Website of the Year at the Future Media Awards 2025. The judges praised our “excellent, deeply reported journalism, ambitious election coverage, and proper court reporting” which is a real credit to the whole KentOnline team. A huge thank you to our readers and subscribers. As COO Ian Carter put it, “subscriptions are a vital part of a sustainable future for local journalism” and we could not have achieved this without you. Here is to continuing to deliver the fundamentals of local journalism with ambition and impact. #LocalNews #Journalism #DigitalMedia #KentOnline #FutureMediaAwards 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eT-NiWgY

KentOnline’s campaign calling for a change in government policy around who gets a Blue Badge has been backed by the shadow transport secretary, Gareth Bacon. Full story: https://lnkd.in/eXYktASW

Some good job news - a leading food producer is creating 60 new roles at its site in the county as it looks to build on a period of growth. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ekSuaDKa

We’ve been delighted to welcome many more subscribers to KentOnline this week and see them making the most of our premium, ad-lite website. The most popular stories have all been exclusives - including an investigation, an in-depth explainer and our coverage of a murder trial 👇 1) Our most-read story was a powerful first-person account by our reporter James Pallant of his diagnosis with MS. Subscribers spent an average of 2 minutes and 42 seconds reading the feature https://lnkd.in/e3DyDnua 2) Our next most popular story was the latest in our consumer champion Elli Hodgson’s ‘To Ell and Back’ series. She uncovered major problems surrounding parking at the county’s country parks. (Average engaged time: 2min 25sec) https://lnkd.in/eKvDv7YB 3) Third was our in-depth look at the pollution issues holding up the building of more than 7,000 homes in Kent - and why the wait could finally be over. (Average engaged time: 2min 24sec) https://lnkd.in/ezDAuH4q 4) We also spoke to parents left furious after their children were offered school places almost 30 miles away from their home as secondary school placements were revealed this week. (Average engaged time: 1min 40sec) https://lnkd.in/eUR6XyiS 5) Finally, our court reporter Julia Roberts has spent days covering a shocking murder trial - and interest in the story remains strong. (Average engaged time: 2min 42sec) https://lnkd.in/eZcDF6rn 😊 Every subscriber helps us continue to invest in important local journalism. If you would like to join those enjoying our premium website and access to our app - which includes digital editions of all our newspapers - you can find out how via the link below. It costs just 57p a week https://lnkd.in/e7FbeDsR

A construction specialist has opened its new million-pound warehouse in Sittingbourne, creating 42 new jobs: https://lnkd.in/ev6vJcsn

The man who has transformed the fortunes of the East Kent Colleges Group (EKC) - Graham Razey - has confirmed he is stepping down as CEO. Full story: https://lnkd.in/eqBARKtj

How would you feel about working a four-day week - with no less pay? Plenty of companies are doing it... https://lnkd.in/dVVuy2x8

Sainsbury's has announced it is cutting 3,000 jobs - and closing ALL its in-store cafes in Kent. Full story: https://lnkd.in/d8-BCE7c

In October, we started asking some of our most loyal readers to pay towards KentOnline for the first time since its launch more than 20 years ago. It's an approach we knew many would not welcome, but one we had to take to ensure quality local journalism in Kent has a future - and we've been overwhelmed by the response! 😃 Already we have more than 1,000 new subscribers enjoying: 💻KentOnline's premium website with no intrusive adverts 🗞️Weekly page-turning digital copies of every KM newspaper 📱Access to our app and an extensive archive of past editions A big thank you to those who have already signed up, and to those considering subscribing you can support us for just 53p a week at kentonline.co.uk/subscribe .