Laura Gunderson has been promoted to the position of editor and vice president of content at The Oregonian/OregonLive, as announced by the publisher on Friday.
In her role as managing editor for news over the past seven years, Gunderson has led teams focusing on politics, breaking news, business, opinion, and investigative reporting.
Her leadership during a challenging period marked by changing reader habits and market dynamics has been pivotal.
John F. Maher, president of the Oregonian Media Group, expressed confidence in Gunderson’s capabilities, stating, “Laura’s natural leadership, strategic clarity, and deep experience across the newsroom make her the right leader for this moment.”
He further emphasized the importance of her commitment to public interest journalism and community engagement as crucial for navigating future challenges.
Gunderson’s appointment is effective immediately, marking a significant milestone in her long career at The Oregonian.
“I grew up with The Oregonian at my breakfast table and have appreciated every day I’ve been able to learn and grow in its newsroom,” Gunderson said.
Excitement about the future for the news organization and its dedicated journalists permeated her statements.
She emphasized the need for a reliable news source for Oregonians, dedicated to delivering important stories with fairness, precision, and impact.
Gunderson’s journey at The Oregonian began in 1995 while she was still a student at the University of Portland, where she earned her journalism degree.
Initially working as a clerk on the sports desk, she made her way up the ranks, serving as a news reporter and investigating local government issues.
Her notable work as a business reporter included the popular column “Complaint Desk,” wherein she addressed reader complaints regarding businesses of all types, alongside covering the retail sector.
In 2016, she became the first woman to lead the Editorial/Opinion pages, managing the editorial board and overseeing political endorsements.
Her tenure as managing editor coincided with several significant events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which required staff to work remotely, and the Portland protests and riots in 2020.
Gunderson also faced the challenges presented by the devastating wildfires in Oregon that year while evacuating her own family from their Clackamas County farm due to approaching flames.
Under her leadership, The Oregonian/OregonLive explored its own history with the initiative “Publishing Prejudice,” which focused on the newspaper’s past and the issues of racism it faced.
In response, she spearheaded efforts for ongoing engagement with community groups, fostering a more inclusive dialogue.
Gunderson has a longstanding connection to The Oregonian, with her grandfather, Al McCready, serving as managing editor in the 1970s, and her grandmother, Connie McCready, who began her career at the newspaper in 1944.
Connie later entered politics, representing Portland on the City Council and as mayor.
Gunderson is married to Steve Suo, an editor with ProPublica, and they have two teenage children.
She takes over from Therese Bottomly, who is retiring on August 1 after a noteworthy 42-year career at The Oregonian, including the last seven years in the editor position.
image source from：https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2025/06/laura-gunderson-named-editor-of-the-oregonianoregonlive.html
