Each year, we celebrate a holiday that is meant to offer a time for reflection on all the things we have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving is now only a few days away, and as journalists we certainly have plenty to be grateful for.

First and foremost, we cannot emphasize enough how thankful we are for the First Amendment. Our constitutionally enumerated right to express free speech and to practice a free press allows our publication to exist and empowers the voices of others through our own. Good journalism is intended to provide the people with the information they need in order for them to be self-governing in a democratic society. It is a privilege, paid for by the blood of our veterans whom we can’t thank enough, that we are given the opportunity to carry this mission forward.

We’re thankful for the insight and guidance from our professors, advisers and former North Winders. You’ve seen it all, and the value of your advice and direction cannot be overstated. You have helped lay the foundation upon which our newspaper is built. Without you, our path forward would be an insurmountable challenge.

Because of the nature of our work, we are deeply thankful for the ability to connect with the community on a deeper level that other professions don’t lend themselves to. We’re also appreciative to the university and Marquette communities for facilitating a concentration of idiosyncratic individuals, odd occurrences and special stories that we are able to cover. The diverse happenings of our campus and city provide an endless supply of excitement and opportunity for journalists.

Lastly, we would like to offer our thanks and sincerest gratitude to our readers. Every time you grab an issue from the stands or share a story on social media, you’re contributing to the project of democracy and validating the independent, investigative and indispensable work we do every day.

In a time when we unfortunately experience efforts of invalidation or complete rejection of independent news, it is our readers who protect and empower the free press. We will always do our best to serve you and provide you with accurate, impartial facts and evidence from which you may draw your own conclusions.