Kate McClymont AM has been admitted to the degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by the University of Sydney. 
 
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 Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO. The citation was read by Professor Catharine Lumby, Professor of Media in the Discipline of Media and Communications. Professor Lisa Adkins, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, also attended. 

Professor Scott said McClymont’s work had shaped public life in Australia and set a standard for investigative journalism.

“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,” he said. 

“Her reporting has held power to account, exposed wrongdoing and strengthened public trust in the role of journalism in a healthy democracy.”

Professor Scott said the honour also recognised McClymont’s longstanding connection to the University. 

“As an alumna, Fellow and former Pro-Chancellor, Kate has made a significant contribution to the life of this University. It’s a privilege to recognise her today.”

Professor Lumby said McClymont’s career underscored the essential role of investigative journalism in democratic societies. 

“Kate McClymont is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading journalists, often described as the queen of investigative journalism,” Professor Lumby said.

“Her 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.” 

McClymont attended both Orange High School and Frensham School in Mittagong, matriculating in the top two percent of NSW HSC students. She then graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor Arts with honours, majoring in English Literature.

McClymont began her career at The Sydney Morning Herald after being selected as one of just 30 trainee journalists from more than 1,000 applicants. 

Over the following decades, she built a reputation as one of the country’s most formidable investigative reporters. Now chief investigative reporter at the Herald, her work has exposed major scandals and led to significant public consequences.

She is perhaps best known for her reporting on former NSW Labor politician Eddie Obeid, whose convictions stemmed in part from her investigations. Her book He Who Must Be Obeid (2014) chronicled the case and its implications for public accountability. 

Her other major investigations have examined misconduct by high-profile figures including television personality Don Burke and broadcaster Alan Jones, as well as questions about the conduct of neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, the Jockey Tapes Affair and the NRL salary cap scandal. She also hosted the Walkley-nominated podcast Liar Liar, which examined the case of fraudster Melissa Caddick and has been downloaded more than seven million times. Her second book Dead Man Walking: The Murky World of Michael McGurk and Ron Medich was published in 2019.