[On the September 11 attacks] In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and no… - John Pilger

Journalists can help people by telling the truth, or by as much truth as they can find, and acting not as agents of governments, of power, but of people. That is real journalism. The rest is specious and false.

When I began as a journalist, especially as a foreign correspondent, the press in the UK was conservative and owned by powerful establishment forces, as it is now. But the difference compared to today is that there were spaces for independent journalism that dissented from the received 'wisdom' of authority. That space has now all but closed and independent journalists have gone to the internet, or to a metaphoric underground.

Pilger: You waste my time because you have not prepared for this interview, as any journalist does, and I've done many interviews. The one thing is to prepare for them and this interview, frankly, is a disgrace.
Hill: What preparation would you have cared for, Mr Pilger?
Pilger: To read. Read. It takes time.
Hill: It's a pity you wasted a lot of your time tonight, Mr Pilger. I was looking forward to ...
Pilger: No, I haven't. I'm quite pleased with my answers. I hope you broadcast them as I've given them.
Hill: We broadcast you exactly as you are. It's been interesting to speak with you.