PAULETTE Neo, the new traffic presenter on Metro FM, recently shared her experience with Daily Sun.
She opened up about transitioning from news reading to traffic reporting after succeeding the legendary Rob Byrne.
She was clear that her intention was never to replace Rob but rather to bring her unique voice to the position.
The 30-year-old Paulette is known for being a news anchor on SABC News, a model and was SunBabe of the Week in October 2016.
"Rob was an inspiration, but I never compared myself or thought of myself as stepping into his shoes. I just thought that I was going to go in and give it my own and give it a bit of me," she said.
Paulette said she didn't aim to fill Rob's shoes but instead focused on connecting with the audience in her way.
"It's amazing so far. I'm loving it. I love the audience. It's incredible, what a blessing."
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She described the shift from news to traffic as a valuable learning curve that pushed her to adapt quickly.
"Traffic is on the go. I also learnt to be adaptable because something can happen, and with the news, it was straight. I've also learnt not to give too much information because someone might be scared while driving. You learn not to cause panic but to give caution," said Paulette.
What stands out most to Paulette is how interactive the Metro FM audience is compared to her previous roles.
"For me, this is something I'm not used to with news, especially TV news. With Metro, it's immediate. Something happens now, they respond now," she said.
She also offered encouragement to young presenters and journalists finding their way in the media industry.
"Your time will come. Stay ready so that you don't have to get ready. Be adaptable, always just be willing to try out things, and when given the opportunity, learn as much as you can and gather skill sets," added Paulette.
