Graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a first class degree in journalism in 2013, Michael began his career as a reporter at the Lancashire Telegraph, covering the east of the county including Blackburn, Burnley and Accrington.
After moving to The Gazette, based in Blackpool, and Lancashire Post, based in Preston, in 2015, he was shortlisted for the Johnston Press Trainee Reporter of the Year award before achieving his National Qualification in Journalism with distinctions in media law and practice and his logbook.
Michael was shortlisted in the O2 Media Awards 2018's Most Memorable category for his series on the Riverdance ferry disaster. He played a pivotal role in The Gazette being named the Daily Newspaper of the Year at the same ceremony.
After becoming an investigative reporter, he joined the national JPIMedia Investigations team, which won in the Publication category of the Bupa Mind Media Awards 2019 for its Veterans In Crisis campaign.
It also won in the Investigation/Story of the Year category at the JPIMedia Awards 2020 for its Lost Billions investigation and was shortlisted for the Private Eye Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism in 2021 for its An Unbroken Chain: Modern Slavery in the UK series.
Michael joined PA Media, the national news agency for UK and Ireland, in 2022 before being named Production Journalist of the Year in the PA Editorial Awards the same year.
His work has appeared in national newspapers and media outlets around the world, while he has also worked as a stringer for the BBC and freelancer for The Sun.
Michael has also spent time at Panorama, working on a documentary film about health and safety failings at tourist attractions, and collaborated with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
His photography has been used by the Associated Press, Independent, The Guardian, ITV News, the Sunday Telegraph, Mail Online, Daily Express, Evening Standard, Yahoo! Life, Manchester Evening News and more.
In September 2024, Michael began studying for a master's degree in photojournalism and documentary photography at the University of the Arts London.
