THERE WILL BE INK - Initiative for Policy Dialogue

money. Their knowledge of what media are looking for in terms of content, and their mediacontacts, make journalists uniquely suited to these communications positions.A major concern about journalism training is whether or not it increases the likelihood forjournalists to leave the field altogether to seek other opportunities, threatening to actually lower theoverall quality of journalism from “brain drain.” Professor Utomi estimated that 90 percent of thejournalists he has trained have been recruited to work in corporate communications. 93 Theknowledge journalists receive in business reporting trainings often supplements education they didnot have access to in university, and qualifies them to work in positions outside of journalism thatare considerably more lucrative. In fact, many of our sample journalists have fled to other industries,while others are currently working outside of journalism.Dean Emevmo Biakolo of School of Media and Communication admitted that there are manyjournalists who are leaving the profession, but that this is more a function of low pay than training. 94In our survey, we found that 77.5 percent of our respondents reported that they remained injournalism after training, which supports this claim.Many journalists we interviewed had left the profession for a time, often seeking better pay, butreturned to journalism later. “I’ve heard stories from some of our colleagues who left to the banks,”said a journalist with Punch. But after some time they have not derived the kind of satisfaction theyexpected, and they are back to the newsroom. “Yes, they say, ‘We were being paid more than wewere getting from the media. But we don’t have the job satisfaction that we used to have.’” 95 Hesaid he saw this happen with at least two journalists when he was working at the Daily Independent. Aformer journalist who is now working in corporate communications at PHB Bank wanted to see theother side of his industry, and thought it would be good for him to go into public relations (citinghigher pay as the second reason). 96 Despite working a day job in Public Relations, he continues topublish stories in newspapers under a pen name. His hope is to return to journalism in the future inan ownership role.A former senior correspondent with This Day said that he has only left the journalism profession forthe time being. “I wouldn’t say I have left journalism. I know I will return to journalism. I am certainof it. I know that I feel that I would lose a part of myself if I don’t practice journalism. Journalism isa profession that people go into because it gives you power.” 97 He reported that the opportunity toleave arose because of the trainings he’s had, certainly but that he left primarily because he wanted togain corporate experience. This journalist said he plans to return to journalism in six months or ayear. “When you practice journalism for a while and leave journalism,” he said, “and you go workfor the government, or the private sector, and other work that aligns with the skills of journalists,you will always want to go back. Journalism is one work that seeps into your system. You cannot sitdown and not want to write, or pursue a story. As a journalist or former journalist you see all that ishappening around you, and you want to break that story today. When you leave mainstreamjournalism, you lose the chance to tell stories the way you want them to be told.”93 Patrick Utomi. 2009. Interview by Adriana Diaz. Lagos, Nigeria, January 15.94 Emevmo Biakolo. 2009. Interview by Ben Colmery. Lagos, Nigeria, January 14.95 Nigerian Interviewee #4. 2009. Interview by Ben Colmery. Lagos, Nigeria, January 13.96 Nigerian Interviewee #5. 2009. Interview by Ben Colmery and Adriana Diaz. Lagos, Nigeria, January 12.97 Nigerian Interviewee #20. 2009. Interview by Ben Colmery. Lagos, Nigeria, January 15.– 31 –