A regional daily has beaten international competition to claim a Global Media Award.

The Manchester Evening News has taken home Best Public Relations or Community Service campaign” in the Regionals category at the INMA Global Media Awards.

The MEN won the award for its “Awaab’s Law” campaign, which came after reporter Stephen Topping’s search for the family of dead toddler Awaab Ishak’s uncovered a string of cases of children who have fallen seriously ill in similar housing conditions in Rochdale.

His investigation prompted the MEN to call for the introduction of ‘Awaab’s Law’, which would compel housing associations not to allow any other child, or anyone else, to live in the kind of uninhabitable conditions suffered by the toddler.

How the MEN covered the death of Awaab Ishak

The award win was announced at a ceremony held in New York City on Monday.

Editor Sarah Lester said: “It took many months of work from across the newsroom to be able to tell Awaab’s story.

“I remain horrified that a child could die from conditions in his home and that his family could face such institutional apathy.

“In the wake of Awaab’s story being told, many other families contacted us and continue to contact us.

“While I’m so pleased the government has listened to us and the voices of our many readers who signed our petition calling for a change in the law, I have no doubt that other families find themselves in a similar position today. We will keep telling their stories.

“It’s a privilege that our newsroom’s work has been recognised with this award.”

The prize comes after Stephen was also recently nominated for the Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils in recognition of his work on the campaign.

The winner of that award will be announced next month.