Press Release from ABC
Paul Barry will take over one of the ABC’s most high-profile presenting jobs early in July, when Jonathan Holmes vacates the chair of Media Watch.
After five and a half years, Holmes has decided to move on.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Media Watch”, he says. “I believe it’s one of the most important jobs the ABC has to offer. Whether it likes it or not, the Australian media needs a critical eye, and Media Watch has an ability to name and shame swiftly and publicly in a way that the regulators cannot.
“Stuart Littlemore pioneered the role, and did it for nine seasons, while holding down a full-time job as a barrister. That’s a record that is unlikely to be matched, but I have stayed in the job for longer than any of his successors, and it’s time to pass the baton.”
Holmes says he’s not yet sure whether or not he will stay with the ABC. “I’m juggling possibilities”.
Paul Barry hosted Media Watch in the year 2000. Controversially, under Managing Director Jonathan Shier, the contract for Media Watch was not renewed at the end of that year. Under new management, the program returned to ABC Television in 2002.
In 2010, Barry filled in briefly for Jonathan Holmes when he took long service leave.
Paul Barry is one of Australia’s most respected reporters and writers. After eight years reporting for the BBC, he joined the ABC’s Four Corners in 1986. He won a Walkley Award and a Logie Award before leaving in 1993. Since then he has presented current affairs programs for the Seven Network (The Times, Witness), and has worked as an investigative reporter for the Nine Network, The Sydney Morning Herald (where he won a second Walkley Award) and for Sunday Telegraph. Most recently he has been a senior writer for The Power Index, an online site published by Private Media, owners of Crikey.
Paul has also written a number of best-selling books, including The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond, The Rise and Rise of Kerry Packer, Rich Kids (the story of One.Tel) and Who Wants to be a Billionaire? (an unauthorised biography of James Packer).
“Media Watch is unique in Australian media, now a widely respected institution that reminds journalists of the responsibility that comes with the job”, Managing Director Mark Scott says. “Jonathan’s leadership in bringing social media under the microscope of Media Watch and his success in taking the discussion about the show into the social media space has renewed the program’s relevance.”
“Paul Barry has a detailed understanding of the complex operations of the Australian media and is widely respected. He appreciates the values and traditions of the program and in an era of significant change in our industry, I am looking forward to Paul's return to Monday nights on Media Watch.”
Paul is currently living in France, completing another book. He will not be returning to Australia until shortly before he takes over at Media Watch in July.