Agness May Underwood (née Wilson) was a trailblazing American journalist and newspaper editor who became one of the first women in the United States to hold a city editorship on a major metropolitan daily. Born in 1902, Underwood carved out a prominent career in the male-dominated world of mid-20th-century print journalism, paving the way for future generations of female reporters and editors.
Underwood began her professional journey in journalism as a reporter for the Los Angeles Record, where she worked from 1928 to 1935. She subsequently joined the Herald-Express, dedicating nearly three decades to the publication from 1935 to 1962. Her career culminated with her work at the Herald-Examiner from 1962 until her retirement in 1968. Throughout her decades on the beat and at the editor's desk, she became known for her sharp reporting and leadership in the bustling Los Angeles news scene.
While preceded by early pioneers like Laura Vitray and Mary Holland Kinkaid, Underwood's long tenure and high-profile leadership at major metropolitan dailies cemented her legacy as a giant of American journalism. She passed away in 1984, leaving behind a historic legacy of breaking barriers in the newsroom.
