Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” 

Those words are especially meaningful to me now. I am incredibly grateful, and honored, to be Editor In Chief. To be selected to lead The Oakland Post is the greatest accomplishment of my collegiate career. I am endlessly thankful for the support of my family, friends, colleagues and the OU community. 

When I started at The Oakland Post, I never would have imagined that I would become Editor in Chief. The idea of leading this immensely talented staff never crossed my mind. I was simply happy to just contribute. 

As time went by, I started to ponder how I could make a difference in a leadership position. The Oakland Post has a storied legacy of excellence, and the idea of implementing my own vision was increasingly attractive. 

Last fall, I came to the realization that becoming Editor in Chief of The Post was more than just a vague desire. I wanted to make it a reality. My time at The Post has been incredibly rewarding. It is invigorating to work with like-minded peers who are as passionate about the future of journalism as I am. 

My goals for my tenure as Editor In Chief are to further the work of my predecessors, and build upon the legacy of The Post by introducing some new ideas. I hope to focus on bringing The Post into the digital age, focusing on increasing content and accessibility for our online readers. I also want to build a space for a larger discussion about current events in the American political landscape and its impact on students on our campus.

There is an old adage in politics that all politics is local. I feel the same way about journalism. The importance and protection of the press begins at the local level first, and spreads out to statewide papers, national publications and the international media. This is especially true at a time when freedom of the press appears to be under attack on a global scale. 

In 2022, 86 journalists were killed and hundreds more attacked or imprisoned. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO, stated that 2022 was the “deadliest year for the profession.” 

Furthermore, it was discovered that disinformation, hate speech and media censorship are threatening freedom of the press worldwide. 

“Our freedom depends on press freedom,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truths to power.” 

With reports as dire as these, how could I not feel driven to reaffirm my commitment to the noble cause of fair and objective reporting?

At The Oakland Post, we are thankful for our freedom of press. An independent newspaper is vital to any college campus, and we continue to be vigilant in disseminating true and fair reporting as we strive to protect our treasured right of a free press. We are additionally grateful for the opportunity to educate, inform and inspire our audience. We are and always will be an independent news source committed to serving the OU community. 

So with that, I welcome all of you to volume 49 of The Oakland Post. I am proud and excited to start this new chapter with all of you.