Savoy worked to expand the focus of the women's page of newspapers, writing about social and environmental issues at a time when this was uncommon.

She was an outspoken feminist, often profiling leaders of the women's liberation movement, including Elizabeth Duncan Koontz and Aileen Hernandez.

[1] She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with an honors degree in journalism in 1940, where she had been a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Pulliam, who also owned the Republic, hired J. Edward Murray as the paper's managing editor in 1960 and he shared Savoy's liberal views, providing friendship and support.

[9] Murray wrote that she used her column to "stir a social conscience in the movers and shakers", which won her the first award granted by the Arizona Newspaper Association for best women's section.

[4][10] Savoy pressed for the wedding announcements of African-Americans to be included in the paper at a time when this was rare and wrote stories on rape helplines, domestic violence and pay disparities.

[11][12] She was also interested in environmental issues, working with local leaders to establish the Valley Beautiful Committee in early 1963 after the response to one of her columns, which raised money for subterranean power lines and to protect green spaces, and advocated for Camelback Mountain to remain clear of proposed housing.

In 1959, an interview she conducted with Casey Stengel, manager for the New York Yankees, received national coverage through an Associated Press (AP) wire report after he protested at her taking down his words verbatim.

She began working for United Press International (UPI), focusing on cities; the appointment was announced in a full page article in Editor & Publisher as "the first woman at a wire service to cover an urban beat".

Williams had told her husband that he hoped to cover controversial topics and Savoy was hired, although she eventually convinced them to change her title to women's editor.

[21] While at the L.A. Times, Savoy wrote personal columns, news stories and profiles on women including Marilyn Lewis, Adela Rogers St. Johns, Joan Didion, Clare Boothe Luce, Maya Angelou and Nancy Reagan.

[24][25] She was listed as one of the "Reporters You Can Trust" published by the feminist organization KNOW, Inc.[23][26] In July 1970, her section of the L.A. Times was renamed as View, which was intended to expand the coverage to features about the LA region.

[2][32] On February 10, 1971, the Arizona Senate passed a unanimous resolution to honor Savoy, sponsored by Cloves Campbell Sr., Howard S. Baldwin, James A. Mack and Bob Stump.

[36][37] Bellows wrote a book about her in 1971 titled, Anyone Who Enters Here Must Celebrate Maggie, which included her columns and writing, as well as messages from her friends and colleagues.