A journalism college is carrying out a survey on what happens to journalists when they lose their jobs – and whether they intend to remain in the profession.

The past few months have seen a spate of people leaving the industry to try their hand at something completely different.

They include the daily assistant editor who became a driving instructor, the weekly editor who became a hypnotherapist, the former daily editor who now sells men’s handbags and a digital manager who now organises cocktail parties.

Now the University of Central Lancashire is trying to find out whether these are just one-offs, or whether the exodus from the profession is becoming a trend.

It has set up an online survey asking journalists who have recently left their jobs to say what they did next and whether they plan to remain in the industry.

The survey can be accessed here.

Among the questions it asks are whether journalism is “just a job” or whether it is a “calling.”

Of the people who have responded to the survey so far, 31.8pc were reporters, 22.7pc sub-editors and 15.9pc managers or editors.

One of the organisers, Francois Nel of UCLan said: “As the staff cuts are predicted to continue for a while longer, we’ll probably keep the survey open and pull data from it every so often.

“If we get enough responses, we will also eventually be able to discuss some trends.”