Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part story about the creation of The Standard Strategic Council and the newspaper’s efforts to strengthen local journalism. Part One covers the council’s formation, the importance of trustworthy local news and challenges, while Part Two explores the council’s identified focus areas and future goals.Strengthening local journalism and building stronger relationships with readers are becoming the focus of a new community-driven effort centered on engagement and connection.The effort, called the Strategic Council, was created by The Excelsior Springs Standard to bring together community members, local leaders and newspaper staff for ongoing discussions about the future of local journalism and ways the newspaper can better serve readers. The group is designed to encourage open communication, reader feedback and new ideas while helping the newspaper better understand the needs and interests of the co...