How They Did It

Michener–O’Hagan Journalism Education Fellowship

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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Episode 4 — Mapping the Tradecraft Behind the Investigation That Saved Ontario’s Greenbelt

    JAN 18

    Episode 4 — Mapping the Tradecraft Behind the Investigation That Saved Ontario’s Greenbelt

    Narwhal reporter Emma McIntosh, Toronto Star journalists Noor Javed and Brendan Kennedy, and The Trillium’s Charlie Pinkerton reflect on their joint investigation into Ontario’s Greenbelt carve-outs. In this Q&A, the team discusses how they exposed backroom deals, navigated political pressure, and ultimately forced the Ford government to reverse course. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min
  2. Episode 3 — Abuse, Secrecy, and the Allegations that Broke the Silence Inside Canada’s Spy Agency

    11/13/2025

    Episode 3 — Abuse, Secrecy, and the Allegations that Broke the Silence Inside Canada’s Spy Agency

    In this episode, Canadian Press journalist Darryl Greer takes us inside one of the most sensitive investigations in recent Canadian memory: A Predator at CSIS. What began as a chance encounter at a social gathering turned into months of reporting on harassment, secrecy, and alleged assault inside Canada’s spy agency. Greer reveals how he gained the trust of intelligence officers bound by secrecy laws, navigated legal and ethical tightropes, and balanced the power dynamics of covering survivors of harassment and assault—an investigation that ultimately sparked parliamentary debate, internal reforms, and a reckoning inside CSIS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  3. Episode 2 — The Dark Side of Canada’s International Student Pipeline

    11/13/2025

    Episode 2 — The Dark Side of Canada’s International Student Pipeline

    In this episode, Walrus journalist Nicholas Hune-Brown joins the podcast to unpack the tactics behind his ground-breaking investigation into Canada’s international education industry. He reveals the methods he used to expose the unregulated practices of education agents—who treat international students as products, not clients—and shows how careful research and storytelling can be just as impactful as leaked documents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
  4. Episode 1 — Unraveling an Insider Oil Deal— from Guyana to Ontario's Cottage Country

    11/13/2025

    Episode 1 — Unraveling an Insider Oil Deal— from Guyana to Ontario's Cottage Country

    CBC Senior Writer Chris Arsenault takes the guest's chair to tell the story of his RTDNA Award-winning investigation into how a small Canadian company with no drilling experience secured a stake in one of the world's hottest offshore oil blocks just days before a president's political departure. From combing through Guyana's corporate registry records to tracing the transaction to a residential home in Ontario, Arsenault explains how Crude Bargain came to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 min
  • 4 Episodes

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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Michener–O’Hagan Journalism Education Fellowship
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Levon Enns-Kutcy
  • Show Website
    How They Did It