Sunday evening, I was one of millions who watched with tears in my eyes and arms full of goosebumps as Oprah Winfrey delivered a series of undeniable truths at the Golden Globes.

No matter how many speeches this extraordinary woman gives, her eloquence and grace never ceases to amaze me, but her acceptance speech Sunday resonated with a special part of me — that little voice in my head that has steadily reminded me for years that it was my responsibility to uncover truth. This voice pointed me in the direction of my career in journalism, and has guided me as a human being for as long as I can remember.

Although Oprah was given the stage to accept an award honoring her own efforts, she did as Oprah does and shifted the spotlight to others, recognizing the men and women who have shared their stories in hopes of ending the epidemic of violence in America. She paid homage to significant figures in our country’s history who have stood up for their rights, spoken out and shared their stories.   

Oprah spoke to the hunger for truth journalists feel, emphasizing that “…it’s the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and injustice.”

This line in particular hit me like a punch in the gut — that voice inside me that has drawn me to my beloved profession screaming, “she gets it!” and I was reminded again that is our responsibility as journalists to set the example for the rest of the world.

It is our responsibility to demand truth, and when we find it, we are charged with the responsibility of sharing it with the masses.

Oprah said, “I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this: what I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.”

Speaking to the hundreds of actors, actresses, directors and producers in the theater that evening, Oprah reminded these entertainers that “Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story.”

As the revolutionary entertainer and journalist emphasized throughout her speech, it is more important than ever that we — both journalists and citizens in general — share our stories.

Taped to my desk, I have a Native American proverb that succinctly sums up Oprah’s message: “Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

These guiding principles continue to lead me on my pursuit of the truth, fueling my desire to shine a light on the extraordinary individuals in the communities we serve, as well as the brave individuals who stand up to fight injustice.

We are honored to share these stories, and committed to offering you a platform to do so.

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manger at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.