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His name is Bassant. Mark Bassant. And he is TV6’s ace investigator journalist as evidenced by the cool mood music that always announces his appearance on the news set.
Bassant showed viewers recently that beggars can live quite comfortably if they only set up their business just outside a popular grocery, which was a must-see for anyone down on their luck in these austere times. And he was at it again this week when he tracked down the much discussed Warner brothers in the United States.
No, not the Hollywood-based Warner Brothers; although his epic “doorstep” certainly had experienced journalists rubbing their eyes and pinching themselves at a day’s work that could not have been better scripted if NSOC director Garvin Heerah wrote it himself.
To summarise, Bassant showed up outside the door of Daryan and Daryll Warner at a swanky Miami penthouse and, before the afternoon was done, had video footage of Daryll’s chest and Daryan’s ankles and sports car.
Notice Kermit (right) has Elmo out in the open and away from any doors while he gets the microphone nice and close for any possible insults.
He also shared a beer with Daryan, got a list of the best coffee shops in the United States—Daryan even offered to take him on a road trip for prime brew in New York—and learned that Jack Warner’s eldest son apparently knows English, Spanish and a little Korean and can ignore questions in all three languages.
If only intrepid British sport journalist Andrew Jennings had Bassant’s swagger. Jennings tried to interview the senior Warner on several occasions and was famously poked in the chest, cursed, threatened to be spat on and encouraged to go meet his dead mother.
Still, I would advise aspiring investigative journalists to stick to the basics when trying the doorstep method, which is generally an aggressive and risky manouevre.
He did offer some pretty personal physiological tips, though.
Unless you have mastered the “Jedi mind trick”, do not saunter up to the receptionist at a swanky condominium and expect him to give you the low-down on his guests. Usually, they will call security.
Even at the Trinidad Hilton, you will not get into the elevator without a room key. Unless the guest has buzzed you up, of course. So lower your expectations.
Most doors in the 21st century have peep holes and many residents simply will not answer if you have a bundle of Watchtowers or a cameraman in tow. Unless you are Bassant. Or, of course, they were expecting you.
As a result, less suave investigative journalists stalk their prey at hotel lobbies where there is no risk of a door slamming in your face and security is usually a safe distance away.
Please rehearse your most pertinent question in advance and wait for your target; you generally get one shot at it.
Most doorstep victims who tell you to come back later would have already given your name to the security or are about to check out; and they generally do not leave the gym to meet you. Unless, well, you get the picture.
Chances are they did not share a beer afterwards.
(Courtesy transparencyinsport.org)
Sadly, Bassant did not take Daryan up on his offer to drive him to New York. Judging by how well they hit it off, they might have been finishing each other’s sentences before they got as far as South Carolina.
Bassant also admitted he got “nothing concrete” from his Miami trip, which might have been a tad frustrating to viewers who sat through a two-part series in the expectation that it would offer new evidence.
It might not have helped that Bassant exhausted all his charm on Daryan when Daryll was the one who purchased the four Miami properties that supposedly caught the FBI’s attention.
Daryan did make a heart-wrenching speech about the anxiety experienced by his family as a result of his dad being the Minister of National Security.
You think you’re anxious about your dad’s post, fellah? Imagine how the rest of us feel here in Trinidad and Tobago.
Thanks for the insight, TV6.
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The tv6 interview was a colossal waste of time. What did Bassant say that was not already reported? In fact, his second piece merely reinforced what the Guardian already reported. Pertinent questions such as where’s your passport etc. Instead all we got were shots of Bassant. Total failure..and this is what’s called investigative journalism..oh please.. Super Grover could have done a better job.
Not much to say more than I think it was TV6’s way of trying to convince the public that the are the number one station for best journalistic reporting by stage managing what was not exactly news or at least good news or new news. But say what…yuh know we are a country filled with gullible people
Failure TV6!!
Indeed Lasana 🙂 lol maybe some of us are too serious.
Spice Girl cracking me up….
They didn’t? Lol
Well said Lasana, I wonder, if you showed up, will the door be opened and will you get a coffee invite, lol. Whole report/interview sounds as staged as a Kardashian episode. And I agree with previous comment; it wasn’t good investigative journalism.
So moral of the story, call first
I still say it was the friendliest doorstep that I’ve ever seen… Go boy;-)
The most powerful part of the story for me was the picture where Daryan rolled up his pants 🙂 too too funny. I thought that was so funny. It was a sure way to uncover nothing I guess.
I read the first few paragraphs in the story in and between my reading and stopped, not realising all the drama beyond the picture. IT was that picture that caught me the most.
Investigative Journalism required: Has Nirad Tewarie made a statement with regard to killing of TTCSI employee?
All TV6 accomplished was to fuel rumours and perhaps make people think it’s only rumour. They had the potential to do so much more with this trip to Miami….better questions in other corners. Why was Darryl not focused on?
Could not believe that I actually felt sympathy for the brothers..TV6 managed to invade their personal space, publish their full address, harass ex-wife and children and air a full 5 minutes of NOTHING
Lasana haha me too i was saying the same thing.
cool
Investigative journalism is required in this story http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/COUSINS_KILLED-194417261.html
I’m still waiting for TV6 to ask Daryan to see his passport! Oh well… Maybe in Part Three;-)
Liburd, well said. What peeves me is that TV6 and Bassant, with the full knowledge that their exclusive was inconclusive still aired it and set the population up to be let down. From the get go it was clear to me that the station was playing for viewership and nothing else….this was not about good investigative journalism; it was merely about scooping the Guardian and going for gimmickry. Thankfully I avoided the interviews and merely listened to accounts of it from friends. I know the characters only too well. Pity he didn’t talk to Daryll or interview people from ICE….ah well.