World

From Ebola to Ukraine to Rob Ford: CBC reporters on the big stories of 2014

CBC News reporters offer personal memories from some of the biggest stories that occurred in the last 12 months.

Adrienne Arsenault, Evan Solomon and more share personal moments from the past year

How do you safely cover Ebola?

10 years ago
Duration 7:02
The National's Adrienne Arsenault discusses her experience covering the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Backstory 2014 brings you CBC News reporters’ personal memories from some of the biggest stories of the last 12 months.

From navigating the fog of war and a deadly health crisis to following the world's most famous mayor, CBC reporters who were on the front lines provide a behind-the-news look at some difficult decisions, raw emotions and memorable moments.

Backstory episodes will air:

  • On CBC-TV's The National on Jan. 1
  • On CBC Radio One — Jan. 1 at noon
  • On CBCNews.ca, where stories will be uploaded throughout the holiday season

On Dec. 29, CBC's chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge will host a Backstory 2014 special looking at 10 of the year's biggest stories. It airs on the main CBC network at 9 p.m.

Adrienne Arsenault on the Ebola crisis

In the video above, CBC reporter Adrienne Arsenault talks about the challenges of covering the Ebola crisis in Africa as well as the precautions she had to take before she could even go out into the field. 

Evan Solomon on the Parliament Hill shootings

Covering the Parliament Hill Shootings

10 years ago
Duration 7:04
The CBC's Evan Solomon describes what it was like covering the shootings on Parliament Hill live in Ottawa.

Reporter Evan Solomon reflects on the events of Oct. 22, when Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot and killed a Canadian soldier guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa and then entered the nearby Centre Block parliament building before being killed himself. 

Susan Ormiston on the Ukrainian revolution

The danger of covering the Ukrainian Revolution

10 years ago
Duration 7:39
The National`s Susan Ormiston recalls the danger and tension of covering the Ukrainian revolution and the downing of MH17

CBC senior correspondent Susan Ormiston was in Ukraine in 2014 to cover two of the year’s biggest stories: the Russian annexation of Crimea and the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17.

In the above video, Ormiston talks about the difficult decisions she and her team had to make while covering a dangerous and violent conflict, and the gut-wrenching moments when it became clear the plane had most likely been shot down by a missile.

Paul Hunter in the Gaza Strip

Covering the Israel-Gaza conflict of 2014

10 years ago
Duration 6:23
The National's Paul Hunter describes what it was like to cover the Israel-Gaza conflict and how he dealt with the horrors he saw.

Foreign Correspondent Paul Hunter spent five days in the Gaza Strip covering the Israel-Gaza conflict. He talks about the fear of being in a war zone and recalls what it was like to narrowly avoid being hit by a missile.

Steven D'Souza on the Rob Ford beat

Covering the Rob Ford Story

10 years ago
Duration 6:22
Steven D'Souza describes what it was like covering Mayor Rob Ford and the media circus and scandals swirling around him.

Reporter Steven D’Souza had been on the Rob Ford beat from the beginning, reporting on each new scandal to plague the controversial Toronto mayor.

In a moment of candour, D’Souza talks about how he felt when Ford was diagnosed with cancer.