It's sometimes hard to believe that I have been here for very close to five years. In fact, Sunday, Aug 15 will mark five years to the day that I started here at Greene Publishing, Inc. I readily admit that I have enjoyed my time here and I look forward to many more visits with y'all. Even those of you whom I have not yet met, I consider to be very dear friends.
A few of us recently returned from the Florida Press Convention in Sarasota. It's always fun to visit with others in “the biz.” I enjoy talking about the Cowboys with other folks around the state. This year, I came away with a much different feeling. Don't ask me why, I have a difficult time putting my finger on the exact reason, but I have a renewed sense of duty. I guess it has taken a little bit of time to begin to really grasp just how important our job here at the newspaper is. I enjoy talking about sports and giving our local athletes a “moment in the spotlight.” I enjoy our weekly visits and continue to hope and pray that I can somehow entertain you and bring a smile to your face. All of that is good, but what we do here has a much deeper purpose than mere entertainment and telling you the score of the game.
I feel we have a solemn duty to serve this community. I think we are in a position to serve this community in a way that no one else can. Does Fox News or CNN even know Madison or Jefferson County exists? Outside of high school football and possibly some other sports, do any of the television stations in Tallahassee really pay much attention to Madison or Jefferson County? Are they going to take it upon themselves to really shine a light on what happens here, good or bad?
I feel we have a solemn duty to serve this community with the truth. That means there will be some who won't necessarily “like” you. Perhaps, it's the truth with which they have the problem and are mad because someone dared to speak the truth. Regardless of popularity, I will continue to tell the truth. That is not to say that mistakes will never be made. Mistakes are always a possibility, no matter how much one tries to avoid them. When mistakes are made, they are admitted to and extra effort is exerted to avoid making them again. But fear of a mistake will never make me shy away from the truth.
There may be those who will attempt to avoid the truth. Some of those attempting to avoid the truth may be those in power. To those people, I say this, “The power you feel you hold will never hold me back from seeking and then exposing the truth.”
None of this is for the sake of any kind of reward or recognition. It is because you are my friends. My friends deserve to know the truth. If there are those of you who might get feathers ruffled because the “sunny side” of truth shines a little bright on you, get used to it. The sunshine might just do you some good.
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