How David Odey, the Gentle Newsroom Giant, Shaped My Career

“Where are you?” That was the question David Odey, my editor at PMNEWS, asked me one afternoon over the phone. Though his tone was gentle, it carried the weight of high expectations. I had left early, but he insisted I return to the office—and soon discovered why. He needed me to write a feature on Michael Jackson. Despite having a full entertainment desk, Odey saw potential and pushed me beyond my role. That assignment became one of many moments when he shaped my skills and confidence. Odey valued precision, accuracy, and versatility. He trusted me with news coverage, editorial writing, and mentoring freelancers. His quiet humour and firm leadership prepared me for future roles on editorial boards. When the news of his passing reached me, I was shell-shocked. David Odey may be gone, but his lessons live on in the many journalists he mentored. He was more than an editor; he was a career builder and a gentle newsroom giant.

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