William J. McGinnis

Bill McGinnis is a doctoral student in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. His research interests include visual communication, academic integrity, political cartoons and Italian Renaissance art history.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1987 and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Winthrop University in 2002.

McGinnis started his public relations career with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission in 1986. He later joined the staff of the Charlotte city manager’s office, where he focused on electronic communication projects such as interactive voice-response systems, fax-on-demand systems and Internet-based service delivery systems.

In 1997, he joined the City of Rock Hill’s city manager’s staff, where he served as public relations director, supervising all internal and external communications, including print, event management, media relations, Web-based information systems and radio and cable TV broadcasts.

McGinnis has been consistently engaged and recognized in Rock Hill civic affairs.  He presently serves as a board member on the Rock Hill Downtown Economic Development Board.  In 2008 he was recognized with a Winthrop University Community Service Award for his fundraising efforts with the Catawba Care Coalition, a regional HIV/AIDS service organization.  McGinnis has also served on the board of the York County American Red Cross where he developed award-winning annual reports and newsletters. He has also conducted successful fund-raising campaigns while serving on the board Greater Rock Hill United Way.

Presently, McGinnis serves as Program Coordinator for Winthrop University’s Master of Liberal Arts Program and is an adjunct professor in Art History at the university.

At USC, McGinnis teaches Journalism 201.

E-mail: mcginnisw@winthrop.edu

Office:
Phone: 803.323.2600, ext. 6113

Hours:
By appointment

Syllabus:
Jour 201 - Survey of Mass Communication