Truth

Mapes and her team begin digging for evidence to verify Bush's military record. They pursue leads and assemble potential sources that could corroborate claims of preferential treatment. The pursuit is driven months before the 2004 election.

Bill Burkett claims to have documents in the form of memos and letters indicating Bush received preferential treatment and went AWOL in 1972. He presents the materials as key evidence for the investigation. The team weighs the credibility of these materials as potential smoking guns.

Mapes and her team interview Ben Barnes, who admits he used influence to help Bush join the National Guard. The admission provides a potential corroboration that motivates further reporting. The interview raises the stakes for the story.

Mapes produces the segment and Dan Rather reports it on 60 Minutes. The piece is framed as a major investigative effort to uncover possible misconduct. Viewers are introduced to the allegations and the alleged documentary evidence.

After the airing, Mapes and Rather face questions about the segment's accuracy and the authenticity of the documents. The controversy is amplified by radio hosts, bloggers, and mainstream outlets. The newsroom begins to scrutinize the piece more closely.

Analyses reveal the memos' font and spacing indicate they were created on a computer using Microsoft Word, not a 1970s typewriter. This detail undermines the claimed originality of the documents. The scrutiny shifts from content to origin and method of creation.

Burkett admits that he lied about where he obtained the documents. This admission severely undermines the credibility of the entire report. The credibility crisis deepens as questions about every source arise.

Robert Hodges recants an earlier statement that the Killian documents were authentic. He refuses to dwell on whether there is any truth in the documents. The official stance on authenticity becomes increasingly uncertain.

Dan Rather is forced to apologize for presenting the material as fact. The network faces backlash and questions its journalistic process. The apology signals a turning point in the fallout.

An internal review panel examines the episode, focusing on the authenticity of the Killian documents and potential political bias. The emphasis shifts from the content to the integrity and impartiality of the reporting. The panel's findings shape the newsroom's next steps.

Smith, Scott, and Charles are banned from CBS News and ultimately fired; Smith is heard ranting in the office before being escorted out. The punishment underscores the severity of the newsroom’s internal fallout. The team’s careers are irrevocably altered.

Dan Rather decides to retire from broadcasting in the wake of the upheaval. Mary Mapes is fired following the hearing, ending her tenure with the project. The leadership of the broadcast is left to bear the consequences.

Rather delivers his last broadcast, acknowledging the courage it took for the crew to persevere through the toughest times. The film documents Mapes’s departure and the enduring controversy. The end of the on-air chapter is marked by reflection on journalistic risks.

The ending notes that Mapes was fired and four executives resigned, highlighting the governance fallout. It also notes CBS won a Peabody Award for Mapes's earlier Abu Ghraib documentary, offering a contrast between later recognition and the current scandal. The film closes on a reminder of complex accountability in journalism.