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A commitment to fearless reporting and a willingness to hold power accountable have defined Linton Besser’s first year as host of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) flagship media analysis program, Media Watch. Taking the helm of the 36-year-old institution, Besser, alongside executive producer Mario Christodoulou, has delivered a series of impactful investigations, earning critical acclaim and sparking debate across the Australian media landscape.
Besser, a former foreign correspondent and investigative reporter, entered the role acutely aware of the program’s legacy and devoted audience. “I didn’t want to break it,” he explained, recognizing the need to respect the show’s established identity while bringing a fresh perspective. He and Christodoulou, both previously with the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, prioritized building relationships across the industry, engaging with executives and editors from both commercial and public broadcasters.
This approach, rooted in journalistic principles, is guided by a simple tenet: fairness. “We try and be as fair as we can to everyone because the person who’s tipping you into a story this week might be the subject of your story next week,” Besser stated. This commitment to impartiality has been crucial as Media Watch has tackled sensitive issues, including internal matters at the ABC itself.
A Formidable Partnership
Christodoulou, an award-winning investigative reporter himself – part of a team that won a Gold Walkley in 2014 – is described by Besser as a “formidable journalist” and a vital counterpoint to his own style. “Mario is a great foil to me,” Besser said. “We’re very yin and yang. He’s got a wonderful devil’s advocate in him and he will hold me back and I will push him.” This dynamic, Besser believes, is essential for navigating contentious issues with balance and rigor.
Delivering on the Promise: Scoops and Recognition in 2025
The program quickly established its impact, delivering a string of scoops throughout 2025. Besser’s blend of sharp analysis and an engaging presenting style resonated with viewers, earning generally positive reception. Former Media Watch host David Marr, who led the program from 2002-2004, was impressed by Besser’s transition to television, remarking, “One minute he’s a promising kid at the SMH, the next he’s a lion on Media Watch. Oh, the pleasure he takes in mauling his prey. Wonderful.”
Even critics acknowledged the program’s renewed energy. Chris Kenny, a prominent voice at News Corp and frequent critic of the ABC, conceded that the new iteration of Media Watch had lost its “supercilious smugness and British accent,” while simultaneously characterizing Besser as a “journalism insider” with a “Green-left bent” focused on targeting News Corp.
Kenny’s assessment proved partially correct. Media Watch did, in fact, receive significant recognition, earning two Walkley nominations in October – one for commentary and one for explanatory journalism. In November, the team secured a Walkley Award for commentary and critique, recognizing their work on three compelling stories.
Exposing Internal Issues at the ABC
The award-winning investigations included a particularly sensitive exposé of ABC Chairman Kim Williams’ intervention in radio programming to benefit a personal acquaintance, comedian Austen Tayshus. The program revealed that Williams intervened on at least five occasions to facilitate Tayshus’s requests for interviews on regional ABC radio stations. In one instance, Williams reportedly complained about ABC staff being “often arrogant with talent” after Tayshus forwarded him an email exchange with producers.
Besser described Williams’ actions as a “grave lapse of judgment.” Williams himself acknowledged that, “on reflection that was inappropriate.” The story prompted a response from ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks, who emphasized the chairman’s role as an “advocate-in-chief” while clarifying his responsibilities. Remarkably, Besser noted that Williams never complained about the coverage and even assisted with further investigation into the matter.
Another award-winning story led to the resignation of Andrew Greene, a defense correspondent at the ABC, after Media Watch revealed he had accepted travel courtesy of a German shipbuilder vying for lucrative Australian navy contracts without disclosing the arrangement to his editors.
The Challenges of Investigating Colleagues
Besser acknowledged the inherent awkwardness of investigating fellow journalists, particularly those within the ABC. He emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “If it’s someone I know well, I’ll say straight away, ‘This is a work call.’” He also reflected on his own journalistic errors, adding, “I try and be very open to, you know, what is the other explanation? A couple of times this year I felt really badly for people who I think are good people that made errors, unfortunate errors.”
The program’s success is also fueled by contributions from viewers, who provide tips and insights from across the media landscape. “On our last show we made a little thank you to the viewers because they’re amazing, and people are so sharp,” Besser said.
The Media Watch team operates on a tight schedule, beginning script development on Wednesday and working through the weekend, culminating in a rigorous fact-checking process on Monday morning. The team constantly asks themselves, “Are we threading the needle the right way?”
Besser believes in tackling contentious issues directly, avoiding extremes that can erode credibility. “There are members of the press who go to either extreme, and then they win great fans at either one of those ends, but I fear they lose credibility in the middle,” he explained. “I think that would be deadly.”
Sean Nicholls, Besser’s former colleague at the Herald and current boss as editor of the ABC’s investigations unit, praised Besser’s ability to apply his investigative skills to television. “I’ve worked with Linton for 20 years,” Nicholls said. “He’s a forensic investigative journalist. So I’m not at all surprised that he’s applied those skills to his work at Media Watch.”
Besser’s first year at Media Watch demonstrates a commitment to upholding the program’s tradition of holding the media accountable, while also forging a new path forward with a blend of rigorous reporting, thoughtful analysis, and a genuine respect for the complexities of the journalistic process.
