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About
How They Did It takes students and reporters behind the curtain to learn the tradecraft behind some of Canada’s most impactful investigative journalism. This podcast interview series shows—rather than tells—how top journalists find their stories, gather facts, build trust, and break award-winning reports. Led by Dr. Chris Arsenault of Western University and CBC’s Josette Lafleur, the project offers hands-on guidance and shares best practices—providing insight into the often-complicated process of investigative reporting.
This project is possible thanks to financial support from the Michener Awards Foundation via the Michener-L. Richard O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education.
Behind the Mic and the Byline
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Dr. Chris Arsenault
Assistant Professor & Chair, MMJC Program, Western University
Josette Lafleur
Journalist, Newsreader & Associate Producer, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo
Angeline Gisonni
Project Researcher, MMJC Program, Western University
Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany
Project Researcher, MMJC Program, Western University
Levon Enns-Kutcy
Project Researcher, MMJC Program, Western University
Episodes
Explore our full collection of podcasts. Each episode spotlights a feature story and the journalist behind it, as they share their trade secrets, missteps, eureka moments, and the craft that shaped award-winning investigations influencing Canadian public life.
Episode 8
Behind the algorithm: How investigative journalists exposed Canada’s listeria oversight failure
When a deadly listeria outbreak swept across Canada in 2024, the initial headlines focused on recalls and rising case counts. But for The Globe and Mail journalists Grant Robertson and Kathryn Blaze Baum, something didn't add up. A closer look at the data revealed a chilling detail: the DNA strain responsible for multiple listeria deaths had appeared nearly a year earlier—raising urgent questions about how it was missed.
Episode 7
A Ripple across the Pacific: How Canadian meth dealers fuel a transnational crime network
Vancouver Sun journalist Kim Bolan shares the tradecraft behind Lethal Exports — a five-part investigation exposing Canada’s role in transnational crime and the devastating toll it leaves across continents.
Episode 6
Couvrir le crime organisé au Québec: Daniel Renaud, journaliste sur la ligne de feu
Quand un journaliste apprend qu’un contrat a été mis sur sa tête, il a deux choix : se taire ou continuer. Daniel Renaud a choisi de continuer son travail d’enquête, au plus près des faits, dans un domaine où la vérité peut coûter cher.
Our most listened episodes
Discover our top-rated episodes, featuring captivating discussions and compelling stories that have captured the ears and hearts of our listeners.
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