Profile of Patrick McGinn

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Classes at The University of Georgia resume today and the look of summer around Athens is fading. Sorority recruitment is over, football season is right around the corner and Athens nightlife is sure to be back in full swing. Scared freshmen distinguish themselves with their eyes on campus maps.

Some begin their journey at UGA in need of a map, but are steps above scared freshman status. Well, they at least can cover up that they’re scared. Graduate student Patrick McGinn, 22, begins his journey today and says he’s even needed a map to find his first classes.

McGinn is a graduate student from College of Charleston starting his master’s program in mass communication. He majored in media studies during undergrad, which he says is the closest thing to journalism at College of Charleston. He also interned at a newspaper there. It seems a crazy twist of fate brought him to UGA.

“I wasn’t even going to apply” said McGinn. “My coworker mentioned it, talked about Grady College, and I applied. I got in. She didn’t, and she had way better grades than me.”

That late November decision to apply has led him back to Athens, and this time as a student. McGinn’s father went to vet school at UGA and he has, in the past, traveled from Charleston to football games. But that wasn’t the only draw.

“REM” said McGinn. “I like the alternative music scene. Where I’m from there’s a lot of country, beach music. It’s O.K., but Athens has a great alternative music scene. It’s like a smaller, hillier Charleston.”

McGinn has combined his passion for music with his journalism career. He was a DJ at the College of Charleston campus radio station. McGinn says he had a regular listenership of about fifty to sixty people.

His real calling to print journalism has led him to where his career goals stand at this point. McGinn is hoping to continue working in Athens for the Flagpole, which is similar to the newspaper he worked for in Charleston. It focuses on his own interests, film and music.

His career intersts are vaguely outlined by his role model, Hunter S. Thompson. But after a trip three years ago, McGinn has a specific, best-job-of-all-time dream.

“Move to Dublin and become the AP Bureau Chief there, if they even have a Bureau in Dublin.”

McGinn is also familiar with screenplay writing and is interested in writing for movies. He is basically interested in writing for an array of things.

“The Irish movie industry isn’t exactly big, but I’ve seen a few good ones” Said McGinn. “I may write for some more screen plays while I’m here in Athens.”

As for the nightlife, McGinn isn’t sure how much time he’ll have for that now that he’s in grad school.

“I went out a lot my freshman and sophomore years of college, on the weekends. Not sure how much time I’ll have now that I’m starting my scholarly career.”