How Paulette Neo is making her mark on the airwaves
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SABC newsreader Paulette Neo, in April, joined Metro FM's 'The Best Morning Breakfast Show' and 'The Touchdown' as the resident traffic reporter.
Neo took over from legendary traffic reporter, Rob Byrne, popularly known as Rob Beezy, who left Metro FM after 13 years.
Filling the shoes of a legendary traffic reporter may be daunting, but Neo is stepping into these big shoes in her own way.
'I hope to satisfy the audience. I love the feedback from the Besties [Metro FM listeners]. It's truly a pleasure to be part of this team,' she said.
Speaking candidly during Youth Month, in an interview with IOL, Neo shared how her passion for journalism began during the #FeesMustFall protests.
'I saw how events were reported differently depending on where people consumed their information, the messaging, even the propaganda. That's what made me want to go into news and reporting,' she said.
Her classroom lessons came to life on the streets, giving her firsthand insight into the power of the media. 'You realise whoever pays the piper controls the shooting,' she added thoughtfully.
Neo didn't have formal mentors, but community radio stations and campus media gave her the training ground she needed.
'Campus radio helped me so much. And just watching others in the industry, seeing how presenters could report traffic, engage in sports, and offer opinions, made me realise you have to be agile and multi-faceted,' she said.
She made it a point to shadow professionals and reach out for opportunities. 'I was always that person saying, 'Hi, can I learn from you? Here's my demo.' I must've been so annoying,' she laughed.
Neo's journey to Metro FM began not as a reporter, but as a fitness guest.
'I was invited to MoFlava's show for Gym Jam at around 4am, to talk about health and demonstrate exercises. I ended up staying until noon because I just loved the vibe at Metro.
"I thought, 'I want to stay… I just don't know how yet,' ' she recalled.
That spark led her to reignite a dream she had shelved after graduating. 'I had studied, but I wasn't working in the field yet. Meeting bold women in the studio reminded me of who I wanted to be.'
Just when Neo thought things had settled, and she was on SABC's Setswana news, another door opened.
'I got a call asking if I was still interested in doing traffic reporting. I had done it at community level. I said, 'Absolutely!''
When it comes to growing her brand, Neo credits social media with opening new doors. 'It makes people accessible, not necessarily to chat, but to learn from them. You see someone's journey and it inspires you to refine your skills,' she explained.
As a Youth Month message, Kaise encourages young people to be grounded and hungry to learn.
'Be adaptable. You're not above learning and stay focused on what resonates with you. It's not about doing the trendiest thing, but about finding what brings you long-term joy and purpose.'
She cautioned against chasing hype. 'Think about longevity. Ask yourself: where is this taking me? What do I really want? Don't just trend for the sake of it.'
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