In June, former Media Watch host Monica Attard suggested Perrett for the role, saying she brings gravitas to its demanding nature.

“There may be people who think it would be great to have somebody younger, but a young journalist wouldn’t have the necessary experience to bring the gravitas the program needs,” Attard said.

Perrett has worked in journalism for more than four decades, at The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Network, Sky News Australia, and the ABC as a stand-in radio presenter.

Media Watch is also looking for a new executive producer, with the incumbent, Tim Latham, leaving at the end of the year. The search is being led by the ABC Content division’s managing editor for standards and compliance, Sashka Koloff. The program is also potentially in line to move to a new studio at the ABC’s new Parramatta offices in 2025.

The shake-up at Media Watch is one of several looming changes at the ABC after managing director David Anderson flagged his intention to step down in the new year after six years in the role.

Anderson and ABC chairman Kim Williams attended the ABC’s annual strategy meeting which was held at its Ultimo headquarters this week and brought together senior leaders from across the country.

Williams also delivered the 2024 John Monash Oration in Sydney on Wednesday evening, using the speech to urge the ABC and Australian media to recommit themselves to objectivity and trust.

Tempting as it may be for journalists to take sides, Williams said, media and cultural institutions must “resist”, he said..

“Trust is the crucial issue. Once the media compromises its absolute commitment to the truth, how can the people be expected to trust what it reports?

How can anyone be certain about any fact? How can they safely put any faith in their leaders? How can they believe something as straightforward as who won an election? How can the peaceful handover of power be guaranteed?”

“To put it another way: When the truth is relative, democracy is imperilled. In my view, objectivity must never be compromised in any media organisation, especially in a publicly owned one like the ABC,” Williams said.

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