Freelancer of the fortnight: Christine Morgan

Click here to view Christine Morgan's full freelance profile on Journalism.co.uk.

Why did you choose to become a freelancer?
To be honest I didn't choose it – it chose me. I took a brave, perhaps reckless, step in 2000 and left my staff job as an editor of a women's magazine to become the editorial director of a health and beauty website. The job lasted five months. As anyone who was working for a website company back then may remember, 2000 was one of those times when the internet bubble burst. It was a great experience though, and I wouldn't change it for anything. But it did leave me out of a job. So I thought, "I'll go freelance, then". And I haven't looked back.

If you trained, where? If not, how did you become a freelancer?
That's a long story. No, I didn't train as a journalist. I used to write a newsletter for clients of a computer graphics company I worked for, and one day I just said to myself, "I'd like to do this full time". Then the right job just came along – they didn't want applicants to have journalistic experience, just experience of the subject matter. And they trained me on the job, which some might argue is the best way to learn. I couldn't say, since I haven't any experience of journalism undergraduate training to compare it with. I dare say few people get a job in journalism these days without formal qualifications though.

Do you specialise in any particular field and what areas do you write about?
Yes, I write about health mainly. It's a subject that has always interested me and I consider myself really lucky to be able to write about it. Of course there's a lot of scope in health, and I have written about a huge range of subjects, too numerous to mention. But every now and then I dip my toes in other things, and have written about everything from claiming benefits to night clubbing. That's what I love about freelancing, it's never boring.

Which publications have you been published in?    
There are quite a few to list, but the main ones are the Daily Mirror, Sunday Express (S Magazine), Dare, Zest, Top Sante, Healthy, Slimming, Pregnancy & Birth, Woman & Home, Weight Watchers, plus a growing number of websites such as mydaily.co.uk, thatsfit.co.uk, pharmacyexpert.co.cuk, NHS Choices and Pru Health. I've also edited a few magazines on a freelance basis too.

Which articles, in which publication, are you the most proud of?
I'm particularly interested in the mind-body connection and have written a few articles about mind over matter in terms of health. One that springs to mind was written for the Daily Mirror about the healing power of prayer, which – despite not being a religious person – I find fascinating.

What are the best and worst aspects of freelancing?
The best for me is the freedom – not having to commute and spend each and every day in an office. I couldn't go back to that for any amount of money. Worst of course is the insecurity, which I hadn't experienced until a couple of years ago, when almost every publication I wrote for pulled the rug on its freelancers. That was particularly scary. Things have picked up since then though, you'll be pleased to know.

Do you have any interesting anecdotes in relation to your experience as a freelancer?
Well I did interview Michael Caine once – I was working on staff at the time, but the interview was a freelance job (so I think it counts). He was quite fascinating, but a bit too keen to get the interview over with, as he was due on the golf course. One of my most memorable press trips was to hear the Dalai Lama speak at a festival in Glasgow – the client who paid for the trip was a manufacturer of Tibetan herbal medicines. I've been far more glamorous locations on press trips than Glasgow, but I'll never forget that one.

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