New Media Watch host on the way. Fans of Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes’ acerbic style should savour the popular show’s upcoming episodes, because he won’t be behind the desk much longer. Crikey understands a replacement for Holmes has been chosen, with the ABC set to make an official announcement on his successor at the end of May. This is likely to be followed by a speedy baton change from Holmes to the mystery new host — the eighth in Media Watch‘s history.

Holmes, an ABC current affairs veteran, flagged last August that he was likely to step down in the middle of this season. Although the handover has been carefully planned for months, the identity of the new presenter is a closely guarded secret within Aunty. (If you’ve got the inside running on who the replacement is, drop us a line anonymously.)

Holmes, who declined to comment when contacted by Crikey, took over as host in 2008, making him the second-longest-serving Media Watch host since it launched in 1989. Founding host Stuart Littlemore served for nine seasons, Richard Ackland two, Paul Barry one, David Marr three, Liz Jackson one and Monica Attard two. A former host could be in the mix, while a fourth successive host from inside the ABC establishment would likely to provoke complaints from critics of the program. — Matthew Knott

Crikey‘s defamation watch. Controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank — who has been at the centre of claims about the use of peptides and other supplements in Australian sports — is launching defamation proceedings against the Nine Network today in the NSW Supreme Court. Nine is likely to be just the first organisation targeted by Dank, who has denied providing AFL and rugby league players with illegal substances. In February Dank flagged a $10 million defamation claim against media outlets he claims made false allegations against him. — Matthew Knott 

Exclusivewatch: The Australian. Today’s Australian runs 13 branded “exclusives” over its 10 national and business news pages — substantial even for the scoop-loving paper.

Brendan Nicholson’s story “Warship to join US fleet in hot zone” is just that — an exclusive. An Australian warship is set to join the US fleet near the Korean peninsula. But some of the others don’t seem so very gripping and exclusive, with single-source reports on reports featuring heavily. Page three features a mystifying “exclusive” on swimmer Emily Seebohm discovering horses as therapy for pressure in high-stress environments.

Of the three exclusives in the business pages, one is certainly true to the word. Lisa Allen’s story on ASIC dropping its investigations into Wellington Capital is a good yarn, and hinges on a confidential letter sent to a third-party fund holder.

Today’s Australian Financial Review is also liberally dotted with “exclusives” — there are five on the front page alone. Maybe our editors should take a cold shower? — Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian

Video of the day. GetUp! is backing the cause of press freedom, attacking Gina Rinehart and others in a new video supporting journalists like Adele Ferguson who face jail for not revealing their sources. The video is a reworked version of UK poppet Adele’s hit Someone Like You. GetUp! communications director Rohan Wenn said:

“Our members are really concerned that an award-winning journalist could end up as collateral damage in what appears to be a family dispute between a mother and her son. Even Andrew Bolt has described the move as not a good look. When Bolta and GetUp are expressing similar concerns I think people need to take a closer look.”

Front page of the day. The new edition of Boston Magazine promises “the story behind these shoes” …