2024 Person of The Year
Rising nationalism, tensions and conflict marked 2024. News headlines were dominated by war in the Middle East and Ukraine, the rise of the far right across Europe and the US, and the survival of autocracy in Latin America. In the midst of these developments, US President-elect Donald Trump was 2024 Time person of the year. His reshaping of American politics through his brand of economic populism has brought him to the forefront of our media consumption, overshadowing the actions and individuals that have moved our society in a more positive direction. Given our belief that 2025 should be driven by individuals who strive for positive change, each Pi Online section’s editorial team has named one individual who has embodied the positive change that has too often been neglected this year.
Gisèle Pelicot - Opinion
Photo Courtesy: EPA Images via Free Malaysia Today
Last year, the name Gisele Pelicot was unknown to the world. However, at the end of 2024, she stands as an example of the very bravest in humankind. A woman who, whilst undergoing the extremely traumatic process of testifying against her ex-husband who arranged for over 50 men to rape her whilst unconscious for over a decade, managed to redefine how we talk about sexual violence and emerge as a feminist hero. Through her insistence of an open trial, and that the thousands of videos depicting the violent crimes be shown in court, Gisele has rightfully transformed the conversation around rape and those who commit it. The 51 convicted men appeared weak and pitiful when confronted with their crimes, whilst Gisele appeared a bastion of strength and determination. Shame should never be on the victims, but on the perpetrators. Hundreds of women stood outside the French courtroom every day to applaud Gisele and give her flowers, and will surely encourage many more to begin their own fights for justice against a culture that routinely ignores sexual crimes against women.
Incidentally, it must be noted that the Time’s pick for 2024 person of the year was a convicted sexual offender; a man accused of misconduct by dozens of women, who famously said he “can do anything… grab ‘em by the pussy” still won the popular vote in the US election. Millions of women across the globe continue to face extreme sexual violence, a rape is reported every hour in London, and anti-feminist rhetoric grows in popularity every day. But, thanks to the force that is Gisele Pelicot, women across the world can find solidarity against the men who oppress and abuse them, and be inspired to fight against and the systems that allow them to get away with it.
María Corina Machado - News
Photo Courtesy: Gabo Bracho via Wikimedia Commons
For her commitment to democracy and resilience despite threats of violence and repression, María Corina Machado is News’ nomination for Person of the Year. Where more political leaders are embracing a populist stance, Machado has delivered a consistent message throughout her struggle and helped mobilise volunteers to keep track of the voting tallies in the 2024 election.
Machado has been challenging corruption within the government since 2002, when she formed the vote-monitoring volunteer organisation Súmate. By 2011, she served as an elected member of the National Assembly of Venezuela, until she was unjustly removed in 2014 following her involvement in the anti-government protests. Despite this drawback, Machado continued to be a leading voice in Venezuelan politics, building huge support for her cause.
2024 saw history repeating itself, as courts upheld her fifteen-year disqualification from holding public office despite her fair election as the leader of the opposition. Refusing to be knocked back, Machado instead took on the role of a bold and relentless voter. She fiercely campaigned in support of her replacement, González, while many saw her as the real challenge to current president Nicolás Maduro, with experts claiming her efforts posed the most significant threat to Maduro’s rule in years. For over two decades now, Machado has proven that she will not be silenced and will continue to fight for the country she believes in regardless of the barriers put in her way.
Evan Gershkovich - Features
Photo Courtesy: U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons
Evan Gershkovich joined the Wall Street Journal in 2022 after five years in Russia reporting for the New York Times, Moscow Times, and Agence France Presse. In March 2023, he was charged in a sham trial with espionage and sentenced to 16 months in prison. This marked the first time that a foreign journalist had been convicted of espionage since the Cold War. Describing the conditions of the prison where he spent over 16 months, his colleague wrote: “Echoes of the notorious Soviet-era gulag system still linger in the country’s penitentiaries, perpetuating a legacy of inhumane treatment.” On August 1, 2024, Gershkovich was released in the historic East-West prisoner swap. Returning to the Wall Street Journal, he revealed that he had never stopped reporting. Gershkovich exposed the DKRO, the Russian counterintelligence department so secretive that it, as he put it, didn’t even have a Wikipedia page. The DKRO was responsible for the arrests of American citizens, including basketball star Brittney Griner and former US Marine Paul Wheelan, as well as creating the state of repression that Russia currently sits in. It has been a brutal and unrelenting instrument of Putin’s regime, engaging in intimidation, surveillance, and political persecution.
Gershkovich embodies nothing short of unbelievable strength and an unbreakable commitment to journalism and freedom of information. He faced a corrupt regime, survived a prison system with the highest number of inmate deaths in Europe, and still refused to stop reporting. An inspiration to a new generation of journalists and a stark reminder of the importance of press freedom, Gershkovich’s story exemplifies the power of truth in the face of oppression and courage in the face of dictatorship. The world owes Evan Gershkovich its gratitude.
Michael Mosley - Science & Tech
Photo Courtesy: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Mosley is a renowned scientist, broadcaster, and science communicator who has had a profound influence on public understanding of science. He initially trained in medicine at University College London (UCL), one of the UK’s leading institutions for medical research and education. While at UCL, Mosley honed his foundational knowledge of human physiology and health, which later shaped his career in science communication. His medical background provided a robust scientific grounding, enabling him to present complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner.
Mosley is best known for popularizing evidence-based health interventions through his television documentaries, books, and podcasts. His work with the BBC, including series such as Horizon and Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, has demystified topics ranging from the microbiome to intermittent fasting. Notably, his promotion of the 5:2 diet—a regimen grounded in scientific research—has transformed global attitudes toward healthy living.
His ability to combine rigorous science with engaging storytelling has bridged the gap between researchers and the general public, inspiring millions to make informed health decisions. Mosley’s career exemplifies the power of clear communication in amplifying the impact of science, making him one of the most influential science communicators of his time. Mosley tragically passed away in June 2024, at the age of 67, however his legacy endures through his numerous documentaries, books, and the lasting influence of his health advice, which continues to inspire individuals to make informed lifestyle choices.
Nicola Coughlan - Lifestyle and Culture
Photo Courtesy: TaylorHerring via Flickr
Irish actress Nicola Coughlan undoubtedly wins the nomination of Person of the Year by the Lifestyle & Culture section. The Bridgerton star has spent the year using her spotlight to advocate body positivity and her platform to draw attention to the atrocities taking place in Gaza.
During promotion for the tertiary season of Bridgerton, Coughlan was never to be seen without an ‘Artists for Ceasefire’ pin on her lapel. Behind the scenes, she has raised over £1.5 million for aid to Gaza. She also openly continues to call for peace and a collective ceasefire on every red carpet that dares to let her speak.
Perhaps on a more subtle level, Nicola’s unbridled confidence in a body that defies conventional beauty standards is helping women across the globe to break the stigma and start loving their own bodies. It’s novel for a TV series to have explored her nudity in such a tasteful and romantic manner, rather than playing the ‘oversized girl’ for laughs. But it’s one that is sure to have long-lasting positive implications on body image and femininity. In the words of Nicola herself, “My body is the tool I use to tell stories, not what I define myself by.”