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International honour for Mike

Mike Laycock, chief reporter at the York Evening Press, has won a prestigious international award.

He is one of only six winners of the Unsung Heroes award, presented by Gannett, the York paper’s American parent company.

The judges decided to honour Mike for his extensive campaign work, and commended his ability to champion “the weak, the vulnerable, or the underdog”.

In the past two years, Mike has campaigned for urgent medical treatment for two local women, helped to protect the parents of a victim of IRA terrorist Paul Magee, and battled for flood defences for North Yorkshire and the East Riding.

The Gannett panel also praised Mike’s efforts to raise cash for the New York fire fighters in the wake of the September 11 atrocities.

Evening Press editor Liz Page said: “He epitomises all that is best about local newspapers.”

Mike, who has worked at the Evening Press for 16 years, will travel to Washington, DC, to receive his award, which also includes one thousand dollars, this week.

He said: “I was gobsmacked when I got a phone call from America to tell me I had won this award. It’s really exciting, and I’m looking forward to travelling to America to receive it.”

  • Mike was the only British journalist in the Newsquest group to win an award, with each of the other five winners coming from news companies in America.

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