Journalist John Pilger Passes Away at Age 84 after a Lifetime of Campaigning

Australian investigative journalist and documentary maker John Pilger has passed away in London, as announced by his family on Sunday. Known for his efforts in supporting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his coverage of the aftermath of Pol Pot’s regime in Cambodia and the Thalidomide scandal, Pilger has lived in Britain since the early 1960s. He has worked for Reuters, Britain’s Daily Mirror, and ITV’s former investigative program World In Action. Notable documentaries include “Year Zero: The Silent Death Of Cambodia” in 1979 and “Thalidomide: The Ninety-Eight We Forgot” in 1974. Pilger was honored with an International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences award in the 1990s for his documentary “Cambodia: The Betrayal” and was awarded Bafta’s Richard Dimbleby Award for factual reporting in 1991. Throughout his career, Pilger made a series of remarks criticizing American and British foreign policy, the treatment of Indigenous Australians, and advocating for Assange’s release. His family confirmed his passing, expressing him as the “most amazing and loved Dad, Grandad, and partner”. Former Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters also paid tribute.