Greg Palast

With a degree in finance from the University of Chicago, where he studied under Milton Friedman, Greg Palast is one of the few investigative reporters who can understand and delve into the arcane financial reports and systems that underlie today's economics. He has worked for the United Steel Workers of America, the Enron worker's coalition in Latin America, and for consumer and environmental groups worldwide. Palast is Patron of the Trinity College Philosophical Society (UK), an honor previously held by Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. Awards include the Financial Times David Thomas Prize, the George Orwell Prize for Courage in Journalism (for his BBC documentary Bush Family Fortunes), and most recently the International Award of the Club of Journalists of Mexico for his contribution in defense of the right to truth and information. He regularly reports for the Guardian, the BBC, The Nation, Harper's, and Rolling Stone. His bestselling books include The Best Democracy Money Can Buy (2002), Armed Madhouse (2006), and Vultures' Picnic (2011).