Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s International Editor since 2022, is a leading figure in global journalism, known for his deep expertise in geopolitics, international relations, and media. Having started his career at the BBC in 1984, he became a foreign correspondent by 1987, and over the decades has reported from over 70 countries, including Afghanistan, Chechnya, Somalia, and the Middle East. Bowen’s most recent work included reporting on the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, continuing his long-standing tradition of covering major international conflicts.
Bowen’s career has been marked by numerous accolades. In 2009, he was awarded the Prix Bayeux Calvados Award for his reporting on the Gaza War, and in 1995, he won the Best Correspondent award at the New York Television Festival. Notably, he became the BBC’s first Middle East Editor in 2005, a role in which he led coverage of major events such as the Arab Spring and the 2011 Libyan War. During the latter conflict, Bowen made headlines as the first British journalist to interview Muammar Gaddafi. His ability to gain access to key figures and deliver insightful, on-the-ground reporting has made him one of the most trusted journalists in international affairs.
Bowen is also a distinguished author, with several critically acclaimed books to his name. His most recent book, "The Making of the Modern Middle East", offers a detailed exploration of the region’s contemporary challenges, drawing from his vast experience. This follows earlier publications, such as "Our Man in the Middle East" and "War Stories", both of which provide first-hand accounts of his time as a war reporter. In 2012, he published "Arab Uprisings: The People Want the Fall of the Regime", an important work that chronicles the seismic political changes across the Middle East during the early 2010s. His 2004 book, "Six Days: How the 1967 War Shaped the Middle East", remains a seminal work on the region's history.
In addition to his written work, Bowen has presented several major documentaries for the BBC, including the Son of God series in 2001 and specials on the 60th anniversary of Israel’s founding. With his wealth of experience, vast knowledge of Middle Eastern politics, and numerous awards, Jeremy Bowen is a leading keynote speaker on international relations and a highly regarded commentator on the complexities of global geopolitics.
