Kate McClymont AM has been admitted to the degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by the 爆料王.听
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The Sydney Morning Herald journalist received the award on Monday, May 18 in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments as an investigative journalist and her sustained contribution to the University community.
The ceremony was presided over by听Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO. The citation was read by听, Professor of Media in the听Discipline听of Media and Communications.听, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, also attended.听
Professor Scott said McClymont鈥檚 work had shaped public life in Australia and set a standard for investigative journalism.
鈥淜ate McClymont听represents听the very听best of听journalism in this country. For decades, she has pursued the truth with听rigour,听courage听and a deep sense of public purpose,鈥 he said.听
鈥淗er reporting has held power to account, exposed wrongdoing and strengthened public trust in the role of journalism in a healthy democracy.鈥
Professor Scott said the听honour听also听recognised听McClymont鈥檚 longstanding connection to the University.听
鈥淎s听an alumna, Fellow and former Pro-Chancellor, Kate has made a significant contribution to the life of this University.听It鈥檚听a privilege to听recognise听her today.鈥
Professor Lumby said McClymont鈥檚 career underscored the essential role of investigative journalism in democratic societies.听
鈥淜ate McClymont is widely regarded as one of Australia鈥檚 leading journalists, often described as the queen of investigative journalism,鈥澨齈rofessor Lumby听said.
鈥淗er work has consistently exposed corruption and abuses of power across political, corporate and public life, and she has done so with persistence, independence and integrity.鈥澨
Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott, Kate McClymont, Professor Catharine Lumby, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Professor Lisa Adkins
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LinkA career dedicated to the truth
McClymont attended both Orange High School and Frensham School in听Mittagong, matriculating in the top two percent of NSW HSC students. She then graduated from the 爆料王 with a Bachelor Arts with听honours, majoring in English Literature.
McClymont began her career at听The Sydney Morning Herald听after being selected as one of just 30 trainee听journalists from more than 1,000 applicants.听
Over the following decades, she built a reputation as one of the country鈥檚 most formidable investigative reporters. Now chief investigative reporter at the听Herald, her work has exposed major scandals and led to significant public consequences.
She is听perhaps best听known for her reporting on former NSW Labor politician Eddie Obeid, whose convictions stemmed in part from her investigations. Her book听He Who Must Be Obeid听(2014)听chronicled the case and its implications for public accountability.听
Her other听major听investigations have examined misconduct by high-profile figures including television personality Don Burke and broadcaster Alan Jones, as well as questions about听the conduct of听neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, the Jockey Tapes Affair听and the NRL salary cap scandal. She also hosted the Walkley-nominated podcast听Liar听Liar, which examined the case of fraudster Melissa Caddick and has been downloaded more than seven million times.听Her second book听Dead Man Walking: The Murky World of Michael McGurk and Ron Medich听was听published in 2019.
Kate McClymont represents the very best of journalism in this country. For decades, she has pursued the truth with rigour, courage and a deep sense of public purpose.
- Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott
McClymont has received听10听Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley and the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism, as well as听eight听Kennedy Awards,听the NSW Journalist of the Year Award, the Australian Press Council鈥檚 Freedom Medal,听and the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year in the 2024 Melbourne Press Club鈥檚 Quill Awards.听听
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In听2017, she was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame.听
Alongside her reporting,听McClymont chaired the Walkley Foundation Advisory Board for three years, and in 2013, returned to the University听of Sydney听as a Fellow of the听University鈥檚听Senate for a decade, during which she also served as听Pro-Chancellor for three years.听
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In 2020, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to journalism and to the community.
Reflecting on her profession, McClymont has said the role of a journalist is 鈥渘ot to be loved 鈥 but to tell the truth and do so without fear or听favour鈥.听
Her career stands as a clear example of that principle in practice.
Hero image: Kate McClymont (Picture: 爆料王, Franky Tsang)
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