Pilger Gets At The Truth

11:59am Thursday 15th May 2008

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If at first you don't succeed...

After nine attempts, Swindon Festival of Literature organiser Matt Holland pulled off his greatest coup - managing to persuade legendary journalist and film maker John Pilger to make his way to the hallowed stage of the Arts Centre in Old Town.

Did you see John Pillger at yesterday's festival?

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In a wide-ranging interview with documentary filmmaker, Luke Holland, Pilger cited his left-leaning politically active parents as a primary spark that forged what would become his crusading approach to journalism.

"Put it this way son, we are on the side of the underdog and that is that" his mother would say.

Pilger added: "and that's what would pass for political analysis in our home."

After leaving school with nothing much to show in terms of qualifications, Pilger learned his craft on the Sydney Morning Herald before moving to England.

And it was here where he got his big break, being recognised for his feature writing talents at the Daily Mirror and given the opportunity to cover the conflict in Vietnam - a crucible where his distinctive journalistic voice was honed.

"I would spend most of my time talking to the ordinary people in the towns and villages there -my assignment was to find out how the war was affecting the civilians and that, by and large, was not a story that was getting out. "

He went on to underscore the importance of unearthing, as Harold Pinter put it, the filthy facts - something that he has put to good use in war zones around the world.

"What I am looking for is some truth, but many people confuse facts with the truth.

"Some facts bear little relation to the truth - it is often what is left out that is important."

While painting a gloomy portrait present day media - with most news organisations now being run by six or seven global corporations - the self-confessed luddite has embraced the wonders of the internet to act as his torch of truth.

"Information is the key. I am interested in finding out why something is happening. Nothing changes until you have the power of information."