Jordan Koster Nine News Interview

Sunshine Coast Women Making The News

Nine News Sunshine Coast boasts a very successful all-female team of well-established journalists who are leading the way for women in regional media by providing locals with the stories that matter most to their community.

Interview with Jordan Koster

Jordan was born and bred in New Zealand, but made the journey across the ditch in 2010. She has had an incredible journey too, studying a Bachelor of Journalism on the Sunshine Coast before beginning a successful reporting career. Jordan's mother has always challenged her to question everything and luckily her role as a reporter fits perfectly with that. Journalism has provided many amazing opportunities for Jordan to experience the best of human kind and sadly at times the worst. The young journalist has covered everything from bushfires and sieges, to meeting the newest additions at Australia Zoo. It's never a dull day in the newsroom.

Question: What's the best part about being a part of an all-female Nine News reporting team?

Jordan Koster: We made it our mission from the beginning to empower each other. It's great to be in an environment where your pairs are happy to see you succeed and even encourage it.


Question: How have you personally overcome the career challenges of a traditionally male-dominated workplace?

Jordan Koster: There are always going to be challenges in a workplace, but I try to put my best foot forward, work hard and stay true to myself. I think it's important to remember your worth and stand up for yourself.


Question: Can you talk us through your career journey to now, working at Nine News Sunshine Coast?

Jordan Koster: I started my career on the Sunshine Coast as a news assistant, before landing my first job as a reporter. I did a lot of work experience and when a few people moved on to other roles I was in the perfect position to be hired. I have done a stint in Rockhampton and briefly in Townsville where I was in a leadership position. Nine News Regional launched in 2017 and I jumped at the opportunity to help start something from scratch.


Question: What advice do you have for young female aspiring journalists?

Jordan Koster: Stay true to yourself and be prepared to work hard.


Question: How do you ensure you're providing locals with the stories that matter most to their community?

Jordan Koster: I have friends and family who live on the Sunshine Coast where I report and when you immerse yourself in a community you start to understand what is important to it. The community has a strong voice too, so when the people want you to listen, you can't ignore them.


Question: What's a typical day like, for you?

Jordan Koster: Where to begin…. My day normally starts with a cup of tea while reading the newspaper to check up on stories that have broken overnight. I start calling my contacts and working out what stories to start investigating. Every day is completely different, I go from chasing storms, sitting in on major court cases to cuddling cute koalas and I never really know what will happen until I walk into work at 7:30am.


Question: What's your favourite part of the job?

Jordan Koster: It's a real privilege to be able share other people's stories to help create change or awareness. Of course, any stories with animals makes my day too.


Question: Do you have any pre-reporting rituals?

Jordan Koster: I don't have any pre-reporting rituals per se but I do enjoy a chat with our camera operators before we get to the interview, usually working out how we're going to tackle a story but also where to find our next coffee spot.

Interview by Brooke Hunter