About
Designed for students, new reporters, and educators, How They Did It is an educational resource that offers an insider’s look at Canadian investigative journalism. Through a series of podcasts and related content, the project explores the process behind award-winning investigations—told directly by the journalists who broke the story.
Supported by the Michener–O’Hagan Fellowship for Journalism Education and led by Dr. Chris Arsenault, chair of the graduate journalism and communications program at Western University, and CBC Kitchener audio producer Josette Lafleur, the project goes beyond textbook learning—leveraging audio and video storytelling to provide practical, hands-on guidance from some of Canada’s top reporters as they recount how they conducted powerful, groundbreaking investigations. The series addresses the kinds of real-world questions often asked by student journalists and early-career reporters—breaking down insider strategies step by step.
How do journalists land their biggest scoops? How do they first conceptualize an investigation? How do they find sources, gain trust, and navigate roadblocks along the way? Most importantly, what can their methods teach students, educators, and working journalists about the craft and future of investigative reporting?
These questions are explored in a show-don’t-tell format, with each interview spotlighting a story that has won a major Canadian journalism award—such as the RTDNA Award, Michener Award, or National Newspaper Award. These examples serve as real-world models of impactful journalism and set a benchmark for aspiring reporters.
The How They Did It project offers an interactive approach to teaching the tradecraft of investigative journalism—revealing the tactics and strategies of industry professionals in a format that’s both engaging and immediately applicable in classrooms and newsrooms. It aims to teach and inspire Canada’s next generation of journalists to break new ground and make a meaningful impact on public life and governmental policy through their own investigative reports.
The Hosts
Chris Arsenault
Assistant Professor & Chair, MMJC Program Faculty of Information & Media Studies University of Western Ontario
Dr. Arsenault is Chair of the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program at Western University. Before entering academia, he was a journalist for two decades reporting from more than a dozen countries. He started his career as a freelancer in Halifax and Vancouver and then moved to Qatar as a staff reporter with Al Jazeera based in Doha, followed by several years at Thomson Reuters in Rome, Toronto and Rio de Janeiro. He currently works as a senior writer and editor at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto. His coverage areas include resource conflicts, large land deals, foreign policy, financialization and climate politics. He has won the Gold Prize at the UN Correspondents Awards (2015), Best National Feature from Canada’s Radio Television Digital News Association (2022) and the Kevin Tester Award for Marine Journalism (2023), among others. He holds an MA in History from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in Journalism from the University of Sunderland in Newcastle, England. He is the author of Blowback: A Canadian History of Agent Orange and the War at Home (Fernwood 2009), which was a number 1 bestseller, as tracked by the St. John Telegraph Journal.
Josette Lafleur
Journalist, Newsreader & Associate Producer, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo
Josette is a multimedia journalist, newsreader, and producer with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. An experienced audio reporter, she has spent the past three years covering a variety of community issues for CBC K-W. She previously worked several years in Toronto as a senior writer for CBC News Network’s Morning Live with Heather Hiscox and as an audio producer for CBC’s World Report, covering national and international news. Josette has also served as a news anchor for CBC’s The World This Hour, a current affairs radio host for CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, and a liaison host/guest speaker on behalf of CBC at numerous community events within the Waterloo Region. Beyond her broadcasting work, Josette shares her expertise as a Professor at Conestoga College, teaching aspiring journalists the rigours of the trade and preparing them for the demands of the industry.
Angeline Gisonni
Project & Research Assistant, MMJC Program, Western University
Angeline is a graduate student in Western University’s Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program. She holds an Honours degree in Professional Communications from Toronto Metropolitan University and brings a strong foundation in research, writing, and multimedia storytelling. Hailing from Scarborough, Ontario, and with a lifelong involvement in the arts within her inner-city community, Angeline is passionate about using journalism to spotlight local creatives. Through the MMJC program, she has reported on local arts and culture in London, Ontario. With a growing focus in script writing, video production, and audio editing, she is also developing her voice in the podcasting space. Angeline approaches each story with curiosity, care, and a deep commitment to community-driven storytelling.
Levon Enns-Kutcy
Project & Research Assistant, MMJC Program, Western University
Levon is a graduate student currently completing his summer internship as part of Western University’s Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program. His dedication to meaningful, impactful storytelling led him to pursue journalism and communication studies after earning his Honours degree in English Literature from the University of Winnipeg. Splitting his time between academic pursuits and a role as a Port Inspection Diver in the Canadian Armed Forces, Levon’s journalistic interests center on international reporting, with a particular focus on political affairs, conflict coverage, and global human rights issues.
Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany
Research Assistant & Translator, MMJC Program, Western University
A graduate of the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program at Western University, Josiane seeks stories that inform, entertain, and spark curiosity. As a member of the 2025 CBC Summer Scholars cohort (formerly the Donaldson and Gzowski Scholarship), she brings a fresh, thoughtful lens to storytelling — always aiming to bridge the gap between her generation and the ones that follow through inclusive narratives, digital formats and culturally resonant themes. Drawing on a narrative-driven approach, Josiane blends in-depth research with compelling storytelling to engage audiences and offer new perspectives. She is especially passionate about podcasting and continues to explore its potential as a powerful medium for intimate, immersive storytelling. Whether reporting, writing, or producing, she approaches each story with intention, creativity, and a deep curiosity about the world.