John Carlin served as The Independent’s South Africa bureau chief from 1989 to 1995, extensively covering the country’s profound political transition. His distinguished journalism career commenced in 1981 at the Buenos Aires Herald, where he reported on cinema, football, and politics. Throughout the 1980s, Carlin gained significant experience as a foreign correspondent in Mexico and Central America, contributing to prominent outlets including The Times, Sunday Times, Toronto Star, BBC, CBC, and ABC News. He was also a founding journalist at The Independent, joining the publication at its inception in 1986.

His diverse writing portfolio also earned him the British Press Awards ‘Food and Drink Writer of the Year’ prize in 2004, showcasing his versatility across subjects. Carlin’s continued literary contributions include his 2018 book, Mandela and the General, further exploring the legacy of the South African leader. He expanded his expertise into documentary production as an Executive Producer for the series This is Football in 2019. Throughout his extensive career, Carlin has been a significant contributor to a wide array of prestigious publications globally, including the Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Observer, The Guardian, New Statesman, Wired, and New Republic.