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Pilger is an example of the exodus of Australian intellectuals from Australia to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s which included ], ] and ]. Pilger is an example of the exodus of Australian intellectuals from Australia to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s which included ], ] and ].


He has been subjected to much criticism, with ] in ] coining the verb 'to pilger' to denote 'to present information in a sensationist manner to reach a foregone conclusion'. The verb was also added to the 1991 edition of Oxford English Dictionary of New Words (), but revoked in 1994 following complaints by Pilger. It has been claimed that Pilger's writings have rarely been subjected to detailed critiques.{{fact}} ] has claimed that the reason why right-wing commentators have invented verbs such as 'to pilger' and 'pilgerize' is because, when faced with the uncomfortable facts about the consequences of U.S foreign policy which Pilger presents, 'ridicule' is the only response they are capable of. {{fact}} He has been subjected to much criticism, with ] in ] coining the verb 'to pilger' to denote 'to present information in a sensationist manner to reach a foregone conclusion'. The verb was also added to the 1991 edition of Oxford English Dictionary of New Words (), but revoked in 1994 following complaints by Pilger. It has been claimed that Pilger's writings have rarely been subjected to detailed critiques.{{fact}} , the far left anti American anti Israeli has claimed that the reason why right-wing commentators have invented verbs such as 'to pilger' and 'pilgerize' is because, when faced with the uncomfortable facts about the consequences of U.S foreign policy which Pilger presents, 'ridicule' is the only response they are capable of. {{fact}}




Revision as of 23:46, 3 June 2006

File:John pilger.jpg
John Pilger

John Pilger (born October 9, 1939) is an Australian journalist and documentary filmmaker from Sydney, primarily based in London, UK.

Life and career

Pilger's career in journalism began in 1958, and he has developed his reputation through both his reporting and the various books and documentary films that he has written or produced. He is best known in Britain for his investigative documentaries, particularly those on Cambodia and East Timor. He has acted as a war correspondent during conflicts in Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Bangladesh and Biafra. In all of his work, Pilger has been a prominent and fervent critic of Western foreign policy. He is particularly opposed to many aspects of American foreign policy which he regards as being driven by a largely imperialist agenda.

Pilger is an example of the exodus of Australian intellectuals from Australia to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s which included Barry Humphries, Clive James and Germaine Greer.

He has been subjected to much criticism, with Auberon Waugh in Britain coining the verb 'to pilger' to denote 'to present information in a sensationist manner to reach a foregone conclusion'. The verb was also added to the 1991 edition of Oxford English Dictionary of New Words (), but revoked in 1994 following complaints by Pilger. It has been claimed that Pilger's writings have rarely been subjected to detailed critiques. , the far left anti American anti Israeli has claimed that the reason why right-wing commentators have invented verbs such as 'to pilger' and 'pilgerize' is because, when faced with the uncomfortable facts about the consequences of U.S foreign policy which Pilger presents, 'ridicule' is the only response they are capable of.


Pilger has a son Sam (born in 1973) and a daughter Zoe (born in 1984).

Criticism of `mainstream' journalism

Pilger is a strong critic of the institutions and economic forces that structure `mainstream' journalism. He is particularly scornful of pro-war commentators on the liberal left, or 'liberal interventionists', such as Nick Cohen and David Aaronovitch.

Works

Publications

Pilger has written for the following publications:

He has also written for various French, Italian, Scandinavian, Canadian and Japanese newspapers and periodicals, among others, and has contributed to the BBC's news service.

Selected documentaries

Books

  • The Last Day (1975)
  • Aftermath: The Struggles of Cambodia and Vietnam (1981)
  • The Outsiders (1984)
  • Heroes (1986)
  • A Secret Country (1989)
  • Distant Voices (1992 and 1994)
  • Hidden Agendas (1998)
  • The New Rulers of the World (2002)
  • Tell Me No Lies (2004)
  • Blowin' in the wind (2004)

Play

  • The Last Day (1983)

Awards

Awards include:

Quotes

  • "There is no War on Terrorism; it is the great game speeded up. The difference is the rampant nature of the superpower, ensuring infinite dangers for us all."
  • "More terrorists are given training and sanctuary in the United States than anywhere on earth. They include mass murderers, torturers, former and future tyrants and assorted international criminals. This is virtually unknown to the American public, thanks to the freest media on earth."
  • "During my lifetime, America has been constantly waging war against much of humanity: impoverished people mostly, in stricken places."
  • "In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and nothing justifies the killing of innocent people anywhere else." (referring to 9/11)
  • "I know when Bush is lying. His lips move."

A Lexicon of Pilgerisms

John Pilger has a distinctive writing style and tends to use certain words and phrases frequently.

  • "behest", "at the behest of"
  • "rapacious"
  • "the lies of the corporate media"
  • "status quo", "challenge the status quo"
  • "honorable exceptions"
  • "agenda", "secret agenda", "hidden agenda"
  • "collude"
  • "cabal"
  • "smear campaign"
  • "stifled debate" (e.g. New Statesman, 28 February 2006, 5th paragraph)
  • "clique" (e.g. New Statesman, 28 February 2006, 5th paragraph)
  • "stricken nations" (The Mirror, 1 Nov 2001)

External links

Categories: