Chloe Sargeant

Career Trajectory: From Grassroots Advocacy to Editorial Leadership

Chloe Sargeant (she/they) has forged a decade-long career at the intersection of LGBTQIA+ journalism and disability advocacy. Their trajectory began in digital content creation for platforms like SBS and ABC, where they developed a signature style blending rigorous reporting with personal narrative. A 2017 Australian LGBTI Awards Journalist of the Year win catalyzed their transition into editorial leadership roles.

• 2014-2017: Cut teeth at Junkee and Pedestrian.TV, pioneering queer-focused explainers during Australia's marriage equality plebiscite
• 2018-2021: Launched Chronically Fully Sick podcast while contributing to international outlets like them.us
• 2022-Present: As Star Observer's Managing Editor, oversees national print/digital strategy while mentoring marginalized writers

Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impact

Meet Our New Managing Editor, Melbourne's Chloe Sargeant

This autobiographical piece blends professional announcement with manifesto. Sargeant outlines their vision for amplifying regional queer voices and disabled perspectives through a mix of first-person reflection and policy analysis. The article's significance lies in its redefinition of editorial leadership as community stewardship, citing plans to increase contributor pay rates for marginalized writers by 22%.

Methodologically, Sargeant employs a rare dual narrative - alternating between personal chronic illness experiences and hard statistics about LGBTQIA+ media representation gaps. This hybrid approach became a template for Star Observer's "lived experience first" editorial policy, increasing reader engagement by 37% post-implementation.

Powerd Media Portfolio

Sargeant's cross-platform work demonstrates mastery of solution journalism within marginalized communities. A standout investigation into NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) accessibility barriers for trans Australians combined data journalism with photo essays co-created with subjects. Their innovative "reverse sourcing" method - where subjects approve final copy pre-publication - set new ethical standards for trauma-informed reporting.

This body of work directly influenced 14 policy amendments across Victorian local governments regarding disability service accessibility. The articles' lasting impact is measured through their adoption as training materials by 9 Australian journalism schools.

Building Rainbow Families with Heart

Sargeant's deep dive into LGBTQIA+ surrogacy challenges redefined sponsored content norms. By framing NewGen Families' origin story within broader critiques of Australian family law, they elevated corporate storytelling into policy discourse. The piece's innovative structure - alternating between founder interviews and legislative timelines - has been replicated across 23 queer publications nationally.

Key findings revealed a 300% increase in Australian same-sex couples pursuing international surrogacy since 2020, despite legal ambiguities. Sargeant's follow-up toolkit for prospective parents received endorsement from the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Pitch Recommendations: Aligning with Editorial Priorities

1. Center Intersectional Lived Experiences

Sargeant prioritizes stories examining how overlapping marginalizations (e.g., queer+disabled+regional) create unique systemic barriers. Successful pitches should include:

• First-person accounts from subjects with multiple minority identities
• Policy analysis grounded in local government data

"Our community's strength lies in its diversity - help me showcase that complexity"

2. Solutions-Focused Disability Reporting

Rather than trauma narratives, Sargeant seeks stories highlighting community-led innovations in accessibility. A recent pitch they accepted profiled a Deaf-led LGBTQIA+ theater company developing Auslan-integrated drag shows. Essential elements:

• Clear metrics on initiative impact
• Participant testimonials co-authored with writers

3. Regional Queer Ecosystem Building

With 68% of Star Observer's audience outside major cities, Sargeant prioritizes underreported regional stories. Successful examples include:

• Profile of Wagga Wagga's queer farming collective
• Analysis of telehealth's impact on rural trans healthcare

Awards and Recognition

2017 Australian LGBTI Awards - Journalist of the Year

This career-defining honor recognized Sargeant's investigative series into conversion therapy prevalence within Australian religious institutions. Their innovative use of encrypted testimony collection methods protected 142 sources while compelling two state governments to launch formal inquiries.

2023 Valories Award for Media Excellence

The NSW Gender Centre's prestigious award celebrated Sargeant's mentorship program elevating 23 trans writers into mainstream media roles. Judges noted the initiative's 89% retention rate for marginalized journalists as industry-leading.