When BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen questioned President Bashar al-Assad about the well-documented Syrian practice of dropping barrels full of explosives on areas held by rebels, he was confronted by a repeated lie. The question for journalists is how they deal with that. And what happens when the lie machine is turned on the journalists themselves. Revisiting some of the most difficult stories he and other journalists have had to report, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen looks at some of the obstacles that stand between journalists and what Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein called the ‘best obtainable version of the truth’. Jeremy speaks with: journalist Rana Rahimpour who was born in Iran but left when she was 25 to work for the BBC, Dean Baquet - until 2022 the executive editor of the New York Times, and Eliot Higgins - founder of Bellingcat. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producer: Georgia Catt Assistant Producer: Sam Peach Additional research: Rob Byrne Series mixing: Jackie Margerum Series Editor: Philip Sellars

The same story can look very different depending on how it’s written and where you get it. Who's in control? Revisiting some of the most difficult stories he’s reported on, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen looks at some of the obstacles that stand between journalists and what Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein called 'the best obtainable version of the truth'.  Jeremy speaks with: broadcaster and former editor of the News of the World, Piers Morgan; Emily Bell - Professor at Columbia University School of Journalism, journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot, former Reuters journalist Sabina Cosic, CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour, and Dean Baquet - until 2022 the executive editor of the New York Times. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producer: Georgia Catt Assistant Producer: Sam Peach Additional research: Rob Byrne Series mixing: Jackie Margerum Series Editor: Philip Sellars

Reporting a story requires detail. But how much is enough? Or too much? Revisiting some of the most difficult stories he and other journalists have had to report, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen looks at some of the obstacles that stand between journalists and what Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein once called the ‘best obtainable version of the truth’. Jeremy speaks with: Andrew Norfolk - chief investigative reporter for The Times, Aisha K. Gill - Professor of Criminology at University of Bristol’s Centre for Gender and Violence Research, Andrew Mosley - editor of Rotherham Advertiser, Emily Bell - Professor at Columbia University Journalism School and Eliot Higgins - founder of investigative journalism group Bellingcat. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producer: Georgia Catt Assistant Producer: Sam Peach Additional research: Rob Byrne Series mixing: Jackie Margerum Series Editor: Philip Sellars

Journalists couldn’t get to the truth with people. Some make stories possible. Others do all they can to stop them. Revisiting difficult stories he and other journalists have had to report, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen looks at some of the obstacles that stand between journalists and what Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein once called the ‘best obtainable version of the truth’. In this episode: how journalists deal with sources, spin and powerful people. Jeremy speaks with: journalist and former BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Dean Baquet - until 2022 executive editor of the New York Times, BBC Gaza producer Rushdi Abu Alouf, and broadcaster and former editor of The Mirror and News of The World, Piers Morgan. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producer: Georgia Catt Assistant Producer: Sam Peach Additional research: Rob Byrne Series mixing: Jackie Margerum Series Editor: Philip Sellars

Getting to the truth starts with getting to the story. Often that’s easier than said than done. Many people want to control access and the stakes can be high for those trying to get past them. Revisiting difficult stories he and other journalists have had to report, BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen looks at some of the obstacles that stand between journalists and what the Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein called the ‘best obtainable version of the truth’. Jeremy speaks with: former Reuters journalist Sabina Cosic, Emily Bell - Professor at Columbia University School of Journalism, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour and Eliot Higgins - founder of investigative journalism group Bellingcat. Presenter: Jeremy Bowen Producer: Georgia Catt Assistant Producer: Sam Peach Additional research: Rob Byrne Series mixing: Jackie Margerum Series Editor: Philip Sellars