Chelsea McLaughlin

Experience

Chelsea’s journalism career began at daily newspaper The Dominion Post in Wellington, New Zealand. Straight out of university, she independently managed a culture and lifestyle page about the city, highlighting local events and talent. It was a jump straight into the deep end, but one she credits with helping her develop content decision-making skills, clean copy and confidence in her abilities.

After moving to Australia, she put her love of celebrity and reality TV to good use by diving into the world of entertainment journalism. She spent more than five years working for Mamamia, writing recaps, interviewing celebrities such as Dolly Parton and Emma Thompson, and co-hosting a daily entertainment podcast. 

Chelsea brought her entertainment experience to Nine in 2024, where she has continued to cover all things pop culture and entertainment. She has continued to flex her strong recap skills with coverage of MAFS and The Block, bringing her unique tone to Australia’s biggest reality shows.

Education

Chelsea completed a Bachelor of Communications (majoring in journalism) and went on to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism with Merit from Massey University. While there, she won the Alex Veysey Memorial Prize, an annual award voted on by her classmates to recognise hard-working professionalism, journalistic values, and a zest for life.