Investigative journalist Kate McClymont gives evidence in Alan Jones indecent assault trial

The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, has told a Sydney court the alleged victims of Alan Jones she interviewed received no benefit from her or the media company for telling their stories.

McClymont, whose 2023 articles led to other alleged victims coming forward, is giving evidence in the lengthy trial of the former broadcaster who is facing 21 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching against five men.

Several men detailed claims of indecent assault against Jones in McClymont’s articles, including that he groped or inappropriately touched them without their consent.

Police say they formed Strike Force Bonnefin after McClymont’s reporting in the Herald and the Age resulted in alleged victims coming forward.

At the Downing Centre local court on Tuesday, Jones was supported by men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt and defamation lawyer Paul Svilans from Mark O’Brien Legal.

McClymont, who has won 10 Walkley awards for excellence in journalism, was supported by the editor of the SMH, Jordan Baker, and the deputy editor, Nick Ralston.

McClymont told the court she always sought comment from Jones and his legal team before publication via text and email. In her evidence-in-chief she agreed with prosecutor Georgina Wright that she spoke to three alleged victims but kept their stories confidential from each other.

McClymont did not initially share her interview notes or recordings with police because they were confidential or not available but received a subpoena for the material in 2026, the court heard.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC, McClymont told the court that readership and advertising metrics were of no relevance to her as a journalist. She had been asked if “special investigations under your name sell newspapers”.

The strike force was formed after the December 2023 publication of McClymont’s years-long investigation of Jones.

His long radio career came to an abrupt end in 2020 after a series of on-air incidents led to the radio station losing advertisers and haemorrhaging revenue.

When Jones was arrested by New South Wales police after a “long, thorough, protracted” investigation at his city apartment in late 2024, he had been retired from his $4m-a-year breakfast radio show on 2GB for four years.