I saw a sign at lunch today, tucked back behind the counter that read, “Sometimes we get in a hurry and forget to say thank you. We appreciate your business.” And it struck me that I couldn’t remember the last time we told you, our readers, how much we appreciate your business.

Newspaper publishing, I have come to learn, is a very unique and challenging business. And it is one I have come to love very much. But like any business, it is easy sometimes to forget what our mission in life is. For us, it is to bring you the most current, accurate and relevant information we can, using all of the platforms that are available to us so you can have that information delivered in the way most convenient to you. For some of you, that is in the traditional paper form. For others, it is on our website or through daily email newsletters. For others still it may be through our Facebook or Twitter accounts. All of which keeps us pretty busy. Busy enough that sometimes, while in the process of gathering the news, we forget whom we’re doing it for.

We know that our readers and advertisers are the reason we’re able to do what it is we love to do. Unfortunately, we often get busy and forget to say thank you. So, thanks. We really do appreciate what you allow us to do.

Tony Clark is associate publisher of The Tidewater News. His email address is tony.clark@tidewaternews.com.