The University is one of two runners-up in the Guardian University Awards 2018 for its partnership with the KM Media Group to establish KMTV, the UK’s first university-led local television station.
The annual awards showcase the best in British higher education with 16 categories covering every aspect of university activity.
Kent’s submission to the Business Collaboration category described how KMTV helps ‘equip students for professional success while also driving localism with a quality community news service’.
KMTV’s Freeview programming regularly draws a live audience of more than 50,000 and the station has a rapidly growing social media base with almost 13,000 followers. Streaming via the KM Group website expands access to programming and reaches millions of online viewers.
The station’s Ofcom licence runs until 25 November 2025 and the partners are considering expanding the channel’s footprint to central and East Kent, to reach communities across the whole region. Quality local journalism supports local communities, promotes local enterprise and enhances local democracy.
The long-term ambition is to make KMTV the ‘go-to’ choice for local news in Kent, acting as a driving force behind the revival of localism.
A full list of the winners and runners-up is available here.