Lindsey Underwood graduate from MU in 2010. She now works as an editor for the New York Times.
When the New York Times decided to relaunch The Edit, a newsletter for college students and recent graduates who are beginning their careers, it announced that it was interested in hiring five contributors to provide a platform for young people to share their stories and perspectives. The Times received more than 20,000 applications from West Virginia to West Africa.
Lindsey Underwood, a 2010 graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, and editor of The Edit has been quite busy reading through the mountain of applications.
So how did a Mizzou graduate wind up in charge of one of the most popular initiatives at the New York Times? Underwood credits the Missouri Method education she received in Columbia.
“My journalism education at Mizzou definitely was the foundation for my career in media,” Underwood said. “Understanding the fundamentals of reporting and journalism ethics has been particularly helpful as I entered an established newsroom at the New York Times.”
Before working at the largest newspaper in the U.S., Underwood was a social media manager for Vogue Magazine. She also has served as a communications coordinator for The Brookings Institute in Washington D.C. She is excited to now be at the helm of something that will engage with younger people.
“Through The Edit, we have an awesome opportunity to feature a mix of stories,” Underwood said. “Millennials are speaking out on heavy issues such as gun violence, climate change and housing reform. I think there’s also room to approach topics that you wouldn’t find elsewhere in The Times—maybe that’s a meme or a YouTube personality who wouldn’t normally have a place in traditional journalism. This is a great chance to shed light on some of those things, too.”
As an undergrad at Mizzou, the Naperville, Illinois, native worked as a writing intern with the MU News Bureau.
“Lindsey always maintained a level of professionalism that served her well,” said Christian Basi, director of the MU News Bureau. “Even as a student, she established herself as dependable, and she approaches all of her work with a very helpful, ‘can do’ attitude. I’m not surprised that she is achieving such success in her career.”
In her new position, Underwood is using her education to engage young audiences and elevate the voices of college students and recent graduates all over the world.
