Michael Christiansen

Michael Robin Christiansen (7 April 1927 – 12 June 1984) was a British newspaper editor.

The son of Arthur Christiansen, editor of the Daily Express, Michael followed his father into journalism.[1] He worked first at the Daily Mail, then in 1956 became Deputy Subeditor of the Daily Mirror.[2] He rose to become assistant editor, and in 1962 gave John Pilger his first job in Britain, on the basis that he supposed he would be good at cricket.[3]

In 1963, Christiansen was appointed as editor of the Sunday Mirror, remaining in post until he became deputy editor of the Daily Mirror in 1972, then editor in 1974.[2] He suffered a stroke the following year, forcing him to retire. In later life, he ran a bookshop in Chelmsford, Essex. He died there on 12 June 1984, aged 57.[1]

In 2013, Christiansen's son Rupert published an account of growing up with his father called I Know You're Going to be Happy.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Obituary: Mirror Editor", The Guardian, 16 June 1984
  2. ^ a b "New editor for 'Sunday Mirror'", The Guardian, 12 August 1964
  3. ^ John Pilger, Heroes, p.50
  4. ^ Review, The Daily Telegraph Review, 30 Mar 13.