What are the options open to journalists when their active newsroom days are over?
There are various options based on what many journalists have moved on to doing after exiting from practicing journalism intentionally or due to various circumstances.
The present varied non-journalism work of some former staff of The Punch Newspapers who shared stories in the book, OUR PUNCH YEARS indicate what practicing journalism should keep in view.
LAW
Gbemiga Ogunleye who was Features Editor, Editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief after is presently a lawyer having obtained in degree in Law while in The Punch at Lagos State University and called to the Bar. He is a Principal Partner at the EBUNOLUWA CHAMBERS
Francis Famoroti who was on the Judiciary desk for about 18 years and left as Acting Assistant Editor OP/ED Page is now a lawyer and holds a Masters of Law(LLM) degree. He is also a property and real estate attorney.
BANKING
Chief Marcel Okeke who joined The Punch in 1987 as Economy Correspondent and left as Head/Editor, Business Desk in 1990 rose to become Chief Economist of Zenith Bank before retiring.
ACADEMIC/NON-ACADEMIC
Abiodun Salawu who was in the features department and later moved to start the Property Page is currently a Professor and Director of Research Entity: Indigenous Language Media in Africa at the Faculty of Humanities, North-West University, South Africa
Bode Olanitori who covered various beats, including Lagos, Plateau and Edo States is now Deputy Registrar/Institute Secretary, Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos.
Yinka Oyegbile who was Deputy Production Sub-Editor and later Chief Correspondent of The Punch now holds a PhD in Communication Studies is a lecturer at Trinity University.
TRAINING, CONSULTING & RESEARCH
Bosede Olusola-Obasa who was Senior Correspondent, Saturday Punch is founder and Chief Executive Officer, 1st Royal Character & Values Limited (RCV), a training and consulting firm with core interest in corporate and personal character development.
Moshood Isamotu, former Chief Correspondent/head, Capital Market is now Executive Director, Strategy and Research, Brand Intelligence.
Yakubu Lawal who left as Energy Correspondent currently works at Hawalsha Nigeria Limited, a Public, Media and Communication Consulting Company as Senior Partner.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Tunde Odediran, former Acting Editor, Sunday Punch is now Information Technology staff at a global customer relationship management software company.
ADVOCACY
Tunde Aremu former features writer (arts, society and ICT) is now communication specialist, policy analyst, media trainer and campaigner with Plan International as Policy, Research and Influencing Manager.
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Funso Aina former Chief Correspondent, covering Aso Rock, is now Senior Manager, External Relations for ICT giant, MTN Nigeria.
BUSINESS
Chief Innocent Adikwu, former Sunday and Daily Editor of The Punch is Managing Director of Otada Health Foods Limited.
READ ALSO: OUR PUNCH YEARS: A REMARKABLE RE-UNION!
