From time immemorial, humans have strived to find ways to express their attitudes, feelings, and inclinations through various media, art, poetry, and writing. In one word: expression. Expressing oneself as an individual is not only a natural instinct but a right that must be utilized in the most effective way.

What am I getting at here?

As many of you know, The Interrobang newspaper has been closed for the foreseeable future. This is deeply unfortunate for those of us who were waiting for the right opportunity to write articles about topics that spark our interest or are close to our hearts. In my case, I’ve been moved to write with urgency to give you a glimpse of the club I currently run, the Fanshawe Sales Association. We were planning a series of articles related to various fields, one being journalism, in the near future, but unfortunately, that will no longer be the case!

To begin, sales and journalism share a unique cornerstone: storytelling. In sales, your ability to tell a compelling story makes the difference between convincing a customer to make a purchase or walking away empty-handed. The same applies to journalism. To succeed, you must learn to inform and engage your audience in a way that stands out and leaves a lasting impression. I can personally attest to the importance of storytelling and staying informed.

As an international student from Kenya, I found myself halfway across the world in a place that was completely foreign to me. I had to quickly learn about the systems, culture, and places in order to survive and adapt. The Interrobang became an essential part of my journey, helping me navigate not only what was happening within the college but also what was going on in London itself.

Through its articles, I gained a deeper understanding of the community, events, and issues, giving me the footing I needed to feel connected.

Secondly, when my colleague Minje Kang and I started this club, we realized we come from different program backgrounds (Business - Finance and Business - Marketing respectively). However, we realized this is a blessing in disguise. We came upon the realization that this club should be inclusive of students from all programs, because sales is a skill that can be transferred to almost every aspect of life, whether you’re convincing a customer to buy the latest CRM software, trying to gain a competitive edge in a job interview, or even trying to convince your friends to order Hawaiian pizza instead of pepperoni (I’m sure half of you are now fuming over that statement!).

Sales boils down to consistent and clear communication, a skill that’s just as valuable in journalism. I’ve seen this in the writings of student journalists like Briar Wilson, reporting on the latest sports news, Jack Sutton discussing the political landscape, and Zoë Alexandra King offering lifestyle and fashion tips. While I’ve mentioned a few journalists, there are many others who also demonstrate this skill and contribute to the richness of student media. All of them share the ability to connect with their audience through effective communication, something sales professionals also rely on to succeed.

Now, this platform for students to air their views and opinions is being taken away.

Finally, both sales and journalism are hinged on building relationships based on trust. Great relationships take time to build, and The Interrobang has been a trusted avenue for student expression for more than 50 years. Now, suddenly, this avenue is being taken away.

How can we continue to build these relationships and express our voices?