Distinguished Queensland journalist Greg Chamberlin was honoured at this year’s Queensland Clarion Awards – receiving the award of Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.

The former editor of the Courier-Mail was recognised in particular for setting up and sustaining the investigative journalism in the late 1980s which led to the Fitzgerald Inquiry into police and political corruption.

“During the period leading to the inquiry and throughout Greg steered the newspaper and journalists in getting the story and then sticking with it,” Clarion judges said.

“He helped build the resilient culture that has seen Queenslanders better served than voters in most other states by a vigilant media.”

Mr Chamberlin was editor of the News-Mail in Bundaberg before editing the Courier-Mail. He has also been managing editor of Gold Coast Publications, managing editor of the Sunday Mail and group editorial manager of Queensland Newspapers.

The annual Clarion Awards are the peak awards for journalism in Queensland.

In recognition of his contribution to journalism, Jschool Journalism College awarded Mr Chamberlin an honorary doctorate in journalism in 2004.