BREAKING NEWSLinton Besser to replace Paul Barry as Media Watch host

The ABC has announced award-winning investigative journalist Linton Besser will replace Paul Barry as host of Media Watch from 2025. 

Barry announced in June he would be leaving the broadcaster with December 2 to be his final date as host of the popular program.

Besser is a four-time Walkley Award winner who said he was excited about taking over the reins.

Im thrilled and sobered to be given the opportunity to host this important television program and hope to continue its great tradition, he said.

The media is big business and hugely influential. Its mission may be to hold others to account – but it too deserves the blowtorch.

For years, members of the public have described to me a fundamental distrust of the media. They lump us together, the good and the bad.

Rather than despairing at this uncomfortable reality Im going to try in my own small way to do something about it. Media Watch remains Australias best public guardrail against bad behaviour by the press.

Chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor praised the decision to replace Barry with Besser.

The ABC has announced investigative journalist Linton Besser will replace Paul Barry as hot of Media Watch from 2025 

Linton is an award-winning and hugely accomplished journalist who brings decades of experience – and no doubt a wonderful flair and style – to this key position, he said.

Media Watch plays a unique role working on behalf of the public and its mission has remained unchanged during its incredible 35-year history.

Each week it holds the media industrys most powerful outlets and personalities to account with uncompromising scrutiny. 

In an increasingly fragmented and tech-savvy media landscape this has never been more important.

Besser has held multiple roles at the national broadcaster and reported for the 7.30, Foreign Correspondent and Four Corners programs.

He was also Europe correspondent for the ABC. 

Besser is a stalwart in the journalism industry and has worked as a producer for Nine Entertainment and a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald. 

His work has earned him praise from his colleagues and Besser is the recipient of a George Munster Award - an honour that commemorates independent journalism.

He has also received two Kennedy Awards.

more to come