One of the greatest journalists and filmmakers of any generation has died at age 84, his family announced on Sunday.
John Pilger in his film, Palestine Is Still the Issue (johnpilger,.com)
John Pilger, whose books, films and articles informed generations of people eager to cut through official narratives and propaganda on the Palestinian question; U.S. wars executed in Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere; the one it plans for China; the state of public medicine in Britain; the treatment of aborigines in his native Australia and a host of other critical public issues, has died in London at 84.
Pilger, a recipient of numerous awards, including winning British journalist of the year twice, was a member of Consortium News‘ board of directors and in October was awarded with CN‘s Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award.
Tributes have already begun to pour in.
John Pilger stood as a towering figure in the realm of true journalism, possessing a profound understanding of the significance of the WikiLeaks ideal. His resounding voice was among the most potent advocates for putting an end to the injustices faced by Julian Assange. He… pic.twitter.com/Y5ql8Yn0xM
— Kristinn Hrafnsson (@khrafnsson) December 31, 2023
Our dear dear John Pilger has left us. He was one of the greats. A consistent ally of the dispossessed, John dedicated his life to telling their stories and awoke the world to the greatest injustices. He showed great empathy for the weak and was unflinching with the powerful.… https://t.co/4ENQMwq5Os pic.twitter.com/L986CI3MlJ
— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) December 31, 2023
This is extremely sad news and millions around the world will feel they lost somebody special. To his family and to Australia his loss will be felt most keenly of all. A great journalist, a fine man, a tower of strength has fallen. #JohnPilgerRIP
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) December 31, 2023
Consortium News will be publishing an assessment of John’s life and work.
CONGRATULATIONS JOHN PILGER @johnpilger
2023 WINNER
Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award
Presented by Consortium for Independent Journalism
Publishers of @Consortiumnews pic.twitter.com/ev2kL7tc1i
— Consortium News (@Consortiumnews) October 16, 2023
Rest in Peace Pilger! Unfortunately, for the rest of us will have to wait to know what you will now know.
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” Haile Selassie
John Pilger’s interview with the CIA Latin American bureau chief heavy weight, both literally and figuratively, clearly demonstrated his professionalism. In the spirit of Anthony Bourdain’s comments on Kissinger’s “genius for statementship”, which was demonstrated in Chile as well*, how Mr. Pilger did not get up out of his chair and beat that pugilistic, amoral CIA thug to death attests to his humanity and principles in the face of great provocation.
R.I.P. Mr. Pilger, you have at long last laid down your heavy burden of truth. May many others shoulder it now.
* Chief Duane Clarridge, BTW, won the 1973 Heinrich Himmler Award which, appropriately, was presented to him by Beezlebub himself. Quite an honor in some circles, especially the 7th Circle of Hell.
Thank you for your dogged dedication so much.
May he rest in Peace.
Perhaps one way to honor him would be by hosting a showing of any of his documentaries at one’s home especially if some of the invitees are not as familiar with him. Another honorable attribute of John’s was that he would always place his work in the public domain a short period after its original release (hxxps://johnpilger.com/filmography). ‘Death of a Nation: The Timor Conspiracy’ and ‘Nicaragua: A Nation’s Right to Survive’ should be part of any country’s school history curriculum. Another longer term project would be to have his documentaries translated into several languages, as we have reached a time in which subtitled translations can be automated.
Thanks for your work, John Pilger! The world has lost a pillar of truth in a world of lies. You were not just a magnificent journalist, but a phenomenal human as well.
Thanks to you, CN, for helping to carry on his work. You rock.
Sad, very sad news. Condolences to his family and close friends. A devastating loss to his readers. What a way to end the miserable year of 2023.
the western world’s silence concerning the death of this great man tells one all he need know about the state of western, “journalism.”
As a Canadian I was looking closely at our three main national MSM broadcasters for any acknowledgements.Especially CBC.
You’re correct . Not a single word. Utterly disgusting. I already had zero respect for MSM now it’s at sub+zero level. Shameful.
John Pilger is an exemplar of all that is good and just in journalism and his presence on the global stage will be missed,especially now, when his type of journalism is needed more than ever. He spoke out for the underprivileged, the victims of unbearable suffering in times of war and against those countries and individuals that perpetrated and inflicted such egregious crimes against humanity. He recognised early in his career, as a journalist, the evils of war, and it is those that are innocent suffer the most. He never wavered in his entire life from the path he chose then, a path which showed compassion and empathy for the suffering of others. John Pilger’s advice,” Let your judgement be based on a well informed conscience. The more you inquire the more likely you will find the truth.” John Pilger’s life was indeed, ‘a beacon of light in a sea of darkness’.
I found John Pilger during my journalism studies at university in Australia in the early 2000s. His work has made a lasting impact on me and he is one of my true heroes, inspiring critical, objective journalism the way journalism is supposed to be. His passing is a great loss to the world, but his work lives on and will inspire new generations. Thank you John Pilger.
Great man, a person like him never dies; he is in all of us who has been touched by his greatness; we are his voice, his eyes, ears, arms and legs, his legacy in this world; the ones who, in some way or another, will help him complete what he started. Till in this world people like him walk the earth exploring, uncovering, removing lies from truth, showing empathy and compassion there is not just hope but beauty.
We are talking about one of the greatest journalists of our time, one who took up the sword of truth courageously with excellent discipline and depth of detail. It is a sudden and sad loss for the common man. It is interesting but not surprising how the Western press is so silent on his passing with only a small subset making mention of it. Not even the NY Times even mentioned it, though his name has appeared in the NY Times frequently over the decades.
Well said, well said and may God truly bless him…
John Pilger stands as one of the greatest and most dedicated investigative journalists the world has ever seen. At great personal sacrifice and risk, he put his pen where his mouth was across the globe. Rest in Peace! Deepest condolences! From CovertAction Magazine, Washington, DC.
The name John Pilger will forever be synonymous with honesty, integrity, decency and above all indefatigable resolute courage in the fight against damnable evil and psychopathy in this world.
A huge loss but also great inspiration to us all.
Vale John Pilger!
I met him once in passing and stopping him I said I want to tell you John that I think you not only a great and brave journalist but just but the only one left who tell it like it is. He smiled and said I think that’s a bit over the top but thanks anyway and went on his way.
A man among men. Surgical in the pursuit of truth.
His spirit lights the way for us to follow.
One of my heroes. You will be sorely missed. I’m so grateful for all the incredible and important work you have left behind.
One of the comments in praise of Pilger on another media outlet led me to his own Web site, johnpilger (dot) com (where many of his essays are available), and there (on the left side) to a link to many of his famous films. for free vieweing. Check it out!
John Pilger,a Journalist for the Ages….Rest in Peace..
He was special, so special. The world suffered a loss and it seems darker now. Journalists like him are so few, and they are needed so badly.
Still, John, rest in peace. You’ve done enough. Your work will survive and tell the truth for years to come.
Tnx CN for my John Pilger introduction.
Few modern individuals live from the heart while having courage to share it at service of human progress… but he was one.
May the date of his passing, at the end of western culture’s calendar, be an augury for humanity’s passing from control through economic elitism to actual freedom for all Earth’s citizens.
Dear John, I have listened to your words of peace and courage for decades, and felt lifted and inspired. I will never stop hearing them in my head nor will I stop believing in them. May your Beautiful Spirit continue to lead us here on earth. We love you, Anna
John Pilger was a superb journalist whose character and works will be long remembered, building a new generation needed more than ever before.
Vale John Pilger, your presence as a commentator of every egregious act committed by neocons and neolibs will be missed. From time to time I may have felt that you may have been a little too frequent, your commentary too didactic which left an opening for scum such as Auberon Waugh to step in and almost sound credible but that was mostly because yours was the only voice speaking out when a lot more of us should have been. Your old employers at the Guardian publish an acknowledgement of your death but I couldn’t help but notice there was no space for readers’ regrets (who knows what sort of subversion may have been expressed thought ms viner) and that while they listed a few of the documentaries you produced which they effusively praised, somehow “The Coming War with China”, one of your last, was not mentioned.
You did many things to reduce the oppression of many people dotted around this old rock we all live on during the course of your existence and I thank you greatly for that.
A true patriot of Australia; unlike the miserable “leaders” whom he held accountable both in Australia and elsewhere around the world. He stood tall among moral and intellectual pygmies, fighting for sanity, for the oppressed, and for the disenfranchised. Rest in peace now, you have fought a remarkable fight for truth, justice and equity.
Have just seen the news about John Pilger. A huge loss to journalism. All his works will live on and be ‘go to’ scources for a good long while yet. RIP.
Sad that his life ended just before this latest terrible year came to a close.
The future could certainly have used him and will be hard pressed replacing him.
Your headline is most apt; The World Has Lost John Pilger.
John has given us so much to people around the world over decades.
We saw him last in London in October 2022. He answered questions with typical thoughtful clarity.
In courageously exposing the lies and propaganda of those in power over decades, John Pilger has defined the true purpose of journalism; and, his journalism has always defined truth.
John Pilger will be missed but John will always be remembered and his immense lifetime of work will continue to inspire others.
Such a Talisman. Such a rare model.
The depth of the loss of John Pilger cannot be expressed in words. His defence of truth and humanity was superhuman and may have been our only hope for survival.
John Pilger gave “voice to the voiceless.” His truth-telling has kept many of us afloat when much appeared to be sinking all around us. Hopefully, his practice of journalism will be taught to future generations and inspire the hesitant and fearful to risk telling the truth. What a gift to us all!
We are very sorry to hear of John Pilger’s death. His influence shall live on as a standard bearer of truth, empathy, and conviction towards the lost and dispossessed.
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today, I
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world, you
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
Written by John Lennon, Yoko Ono.
Thank you.
Indefatigable in pursuing truth and justice, I cannot think of Mr Pilger any other way.
Sincere sympathies to his family especially, but also to the citizens anywhere in the world his conscience-filled pen spoke for and lifted up. And there were many. A well earned rest is his.
A great man, a courageous and steadfast journalist and most importantly an ally of the dispossessed . Real journalism has lost a titan who has inspired a new generation of activists and truth seekers. Rest in Peace Mr Pilger.
RIP Thank you!
A very sad day, especially as journalism doesn’t really exist in the West today. We have lost a giant, a man of total integrity.
Goodbye to a courageous and decent truth teller , unafraid of the evil taking over our world. It is our world and John Pilger knew that.
Rest in Peace.
Thank you John, for your many years of serving Truth without stint. Your voice was a treasure, and will be sorely missed in thes dismal times.
He and his work were enormous gifts to all of us. If John Pilger were 184, it would still be too soon to lose him.
Thank you for a lifetime of work – for your uncompromising pursuit of truth – on behalf of all of us. May you be at peace.
John , you gave a voice to the voiceless.
A brave and indefatigable champion of dispossessed.
You will be missed.
let’s all try to follow in his professional footsteps, RIP John Pilger
Not enough people like John. He will be missed, but his work will live on in the memories of all those who profited from his hard work and his wonderful humanity.
John Pilger —and I’ve only read of his thoughts lately, but I loved his ideas and the way he stood up for humanity everywhere. He is what journalism and journalists are supposed to be.
A light well lit and a life well lived.
Very sorry to hear this…all the best to John and his family.
Truly one of the best truth tellers in journalism .His footprint on this earth is and will always be large .I cut my knowledge in world affairs by reading and viewing his documentaries and videos . RIP John Richard Pilger but you will be missed .
A great man and a great loss. Rest in power, John Pilger.
Rest in power John Pilger. The world will miss your unflinching dedication to reporting the truth no matter the determination of powerful interests to keep it hidden. Thank you for your courage and integrity. Qualities in short supply these days.
A great loss.
Words fail.
Hopefully many more like him to follow…RIP
What a guy.
Simply that…
Peace ??????
Pilger was among a literal ‘finger count’ of voices, in all the wide world, that could be believed.
John. Thank you for everything.
The integrity in the universal soul of truth is gone!!!!
Your writings and films will live on forever.
As will my tears for the loss of one of the best.
Rip John
Thank your historical journalistic work
Your memory lives on
Sol
Such a great loss to the world – you were one of the few who brought truth to light in these dark, dark times. Rest in peace John Pilger…
One recognizes John Pilger was a truly honest journalist and good and decent man when upon his passing people across the Earth mourn his loss as if they’ve lost a beloved blood brother…
Rest in peace, John Pilger.
Well said. He will be sorely missed, at a time when the world needs many many more like him.