The Independence Standard is an independent online publication focused on explaining the “why” and “how” behind local government decisions in Independence, Missouri.
While many outlets focus primarily on what happened, The Independence Standard focuses on:
• Public processes and how decisions move through city government
• Financial structures and how public dollars are allocated and used
• Long-term planning decisions that shape the future of the community
• Civic tradeoffs and the competing priorities behind major projects and policies
Rather than centering coverage solely around headlines or political personalities, the publication works to help residents better understand how decisions are made, how public dollars move through the system, and how those decisions may impact the future of the city.
Through meeting analysis, document review, civic education, and process-based reporting, The Independence Standard helps explain complex issues in a clear way. The publication also provides links to access to public agendas and meeting recordings. This is so residents can review information for themselves and participate more confidently in local civic life.
At its core, The Independence Standard exists to strengthen civic understanding, encourage transparency, and help reconnect citizens with the processes shaping their community.
Truth. Clarity. Accountability. Faith in Action.
When Cheri was invited to lend her writing talents to The Independence Standard, she jumped at the chance. Why? Because her first freelance writing gig was for a small hometown newspaper.
From 2005 to 2007, Cheri covered city council and school board meetings in Hamilton, Missouri through her reporting for the Hamilton Advocate (now the Caldwell County News). As she sat through lengthy meetings and prepared the articles covering them, she never dreamed her reporting could make a life or death difference.
Then, through one stretch of reporting, she was instrumental in bringing to light the insufficiency of the tornado warning system in Hamilton. As she continued reporting the discussions of this situation at subsequent city council meetings, the community rallied around the issue. Eventually, their calls for action resulted in Hamilton having multiple working sirens installed, a realistic schedule for testing them regularly, and established protocol on who would monitor severe weather and sound the sirens.
That experience taught her better than anything could the power of the pen.
Since her reporting days in Hamilton, she has come to understand the power of story as well. While she has hung up her city council and school board reporting hat, she is now making a difference with the morale and image of Independence. Her monthly column, “Voices of Independence” covers inspirational stories of people, places, projects, and organizations in the community.