Michael Christiansen

Who was Michael Christiansen?

Michael Christiansen was a British newspaper editor.

The son of Arthur Christiansen, editor of the Daily Express, Michael followed his father into journalism. He worked first at the Daily Mail, then in 1956 became Deputy Subeditor of the Daily Mirror. 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.

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. He suffered a stroke the following year, forcing him to retire. In later life, he ran a bookshop in Chelmsford.

In 2013 Christiansen's son Rupert published an account of growing up with his father called I Know You’re Going to be Happy. Rupert clearly had a tough time with his father.