Missouri Press Association Welcomes the Excelsior Citizen, Solidifying Its Role as Excelsior Springs’ Trusted Voice

Excelsior Springs, Mo. (Jan. 26, 2025)  — The Excelsior Citizen has officially been accepted as a member of the Missouri Press Association (MPA). The announcement came on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, after the MPA executive board voted unanimously to approve the membership.

The Missouri Press Association, established in 1867, is one of the country’s oldest and most respected press organizations. Its mission is to uphold press freedom, support local news outlets, and promote high journalistic standards. Membership in the MPA reflects The Excelsior Citizen’s dedication to professional excellence and bolsters its position as the trusted news source for Excelsior Springs and the surrounding area.

Jason Cole, Co-Founder and Editor of The Excelsior Citizen, shared his excitement about this milestone.
“This is a tremendous honor for us as a local publication. Joining the Missouri Press Association validates the hard work we’ve put into building The Citizen and connects us with a legacy of journalistic excellence that dates back more than 150 years. It’s proof that even in a small town, big things can happen when a community supports its own.”

For Courtney Cole, Founder and Publisher of The Excelsior Citizen, the MPA membership represents the culmination of the publication’s journey so far.
“From day one, we’ve been focused on serving our community with integrity, transparency, and a deep love for Excelsior Springs. Being welcomed into the Missouri Press Association is not just an achievement for us—it’s a win for everyone who believes in the power of local news. We’re proud to represent our community at this level and will continue to uphold the standards that have brought us this far.”

A Growing List of Accomplishments

The Excelsior Citizen’s acceptance into the Missouri Press Association adds to its impressive roster of accolades and memberships. The Citizen is already a proud member of LION Publishers and the Online News Association (ONA), two prestigious national organizations that champion innovation and sustainability in journalism.

Locally, The Citizen is an active member of the Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Excelsior Partnership (DEP). The publication was honored as the Chamber Member of the Year in 2023, showcasing its commitment to local businesses and community engagement.

Nationally, The Citizen reached new heights in 2024 when it was named a finalist for LION Publishers’ Business of the Year Award, ranking in the top three online publications with annual revenues under $500,000. Competing alongside Civic Lex of Lexington, Kentucky, and Red Bank Green of Red Bank, New Jersey—both from significantly larger markets—the recognition demonstrated The Citizen’s outsized impact in the world of local journalism.

In October 2024, The Excelsior Citizen was honored to be part of the inaugural cohort of 205 publications selected to receive funding from the Press Forward Foundation’s Closing Local Coverage Gaps Grant. This groundbreaking program, the first of its kind, united leading philanthropic organizations to support some of the nation’s most innovative and impactful local news outlets.

Gratitude for the Community

The Excelsior Citizen’s success wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of its readers, advertisers, and the broader community. “Our journey has always been about partnership,” said Courtney Cole. “From our founding to this very moment, Excelsior Springs has stood with us, and we’re so grateful. We are proud to be the only 100% locally owned and operated publication in the area, and that connection to our community is at the heart of everything we do.”