Beyond the Headlines podcast: Inside Syria's propaganda machine

This week, Gareth Browne talks to us after returning from a week-long government-monitored trip into Assad's Syria

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has always held a tight grip on media in his country. After seven years of a vicious war, the strongman maintains strict control over all news coming out of his side of the country.

The National was given a glimpse into what Assad wants the world to interpret about his regime. Our correspondent, Gareth Browne saw right through it.

We spoke to Gareth as he returned from a week-long government-monitored trip into Assad's Syria. He told us about how the country's secret service hounded the group of journalists from the UK and what it means for the Syria's outlook.

Read more: The ‘crazy club’: Inside the British propaganda trips that seek to legitimise Assad’s barbarism