Seeing where hard work leads: Chloe Burgess-Jones

Going with the flow took Chloe Burgess-Jones from the SCA Newcastle street team in 2019 to the ACRA finalist list for ‘Best New Talent Off Air’ in 2023. 

This turned out to be a beautiful surprise, as Chloe had no intention of pursuing a career in radio, but preferred to let life take her where it may.

In her youth, Chloe aspired to be a musician before she realised it wasn’t a good fit and started studying media with no particular outcome in mind. 

Then Chloe “pretty much fell into radio” before realising how much she loved it. 

She hasn’t looked back since.

“To get some industry experience I volunteered in the newsroom at 2NURFM then got a casual role on the SCA Newcastle street team, from there I was hooked,” Chloe said.

“It felt like a natural progression as radio to me feels like the perfect mix of music and media.”

Chloe joined the street team because she heard that is “where a lot of stars started,” but she never realised at the time she was on the path to becoming one. 

After putting in the hard yards, Chloe landed a role as a creative writer with SCA on the Central Coast of NSW, where she also had the opportunity to produce Paddy & Rob Palmer on 107.7 Triple M this year. 

Chloe loves the chaos of the job and the way a good show comes together. 

“I love that in my job, no day is the same,” she says.

“One day I’m head down writing an intensive campaign, the next, I’m voicing and producing commercials, filming and editing social media content, producing a breakfast show or announcing on air.”

“I look at radio like a duck swimming on the water – on the surface, the listeners see a flawless execution. But underneath is the team working tirelessly to create the magic.”

Now nominated for the provincial Best New Talent Off Air ACRA, Chloe says she has her “work dads” to thank. 

“I often refer to my team as my ‘work dads,'” she said.

“Mike Barry, David Horspool and Cameron Horn have been in radio longer than I’ve been alive, and I’m so grateful to have had them mentoring me through my career so far.”

“They have all helped me try new things and trusted me enough to throw me into the deep end.”

With all the support, Chloe recently took another leap – starting as a casual announcer on weekends at Hit 101.3 from 3-6pm. 

She says she owes thanks to Nic Kelly for the help and encouragement.

“Announcing was always something I wanted to learn from the moment I got into radio, she says. 

“This year I had the opportunity to produce our local Triple M Breakfast show for a few months, and once I went back to my actual role as a writer, I missed the world of content.”

“So, I asked the team if announcing was possible and it was! After learning the ropes with the amazing Nic Kelly, he said I was good enough to go to air, and now I announce weekends on a rotating roster.”

But, in the same fashion Chloe started in radio, she says will see where the future takes her.

“I’ve never been one to have set goals, I more like to ride the wave and see where it takes me,” says Chloe.

“Along the way, I’ve explored so many different areas of radio, but content has by far been my favourite.”

“I’m not limiting myself to one path, I’m open to any and all opportunities that come up. Whether that producing, creating digital content or announcing on more of a full-time basis, it all sounds really exciting!”