CHANGES are to be made to an annual awards competition sponsored by Kent brewers Shepherd Neame honouring the county’s best journalists.

Next year the competition will alter to "keep up with the changing face of journalism in Kent".

At this year's awards ceremeony, the chairman of the judges, former Mail on Sunday editor Jonathan Holborow, said a new award for the Shepherd Neame News Service of the Year would be introduced in 2006 to reflect Kent’s vibrant news marketplace.

He said: "We all know the reliance that communities have on their local newspaper, website, radio or TV station," he said.

"The nature of our 24-hour society means that demands on news are greater than ever."

He hoped the new award would inspire healthy competition across the county.

Two other categories were also being created: Kent’s Best Newspaper Journalist and Feature Journalist of the Year.

Mr Holborow said that in future the journalist of the year would be chosen from the winner of those two categories and two existing categories, broadcast journalist of the year and sports journalist of the year.