Millie Bowles

Millie Bowles started at KentOnline three years ago as a community news apprentice with no journalism experience. She is now a senior reporter who has worked hard to inform, entertain and build trust with her local community. 

Millie’s submitted interviews demonstrate her range and strong storytelling skills. A profile of the chef Graham Garrett captured his blunt, straight-talking personality and covered his feelings about swapping London’s restaurant scene for village life, how he coped with losing a Michelin Star and the impact of the recent Budget on the hospitality industry. The story attracted more than 10,000 readers, with an average dwell time of 1 minute 20 seconds. 

Other stories showcase Millie’s skill and effort in forging relationships with members of the local community, enabling her to cover sensitive topics. One piece features an interview with the sister of Mary Malkin. Mary was murdered by her partner and Millie’s piece shines a light on the pervasive issue of domestic violence. To deliver a candid, moving interview with the partner of Emma Urquhart, who died after relapsing into drug addiction, Millie worked with a local charity to sensitively showcase the topic. The piece was read by almost 22,000 people.

Judges’ comments: “This selection of stories embodies the dual purpose of journalism – to inform and entertain… Difficult subjects, handled well.”