JOHNATHAN MCGINTY

Johnathan’s original career goal was to be a screenwriter in Hollywood, but his early exposure to newspapering led him down the path toward public relations. He is a team member based in our Athens office, leading account work for the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health and contributing to a number of our sports clients, including the Stadion Classic at UGA.

His prior career stops include stints on the external affairs staff of UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and three years as the public relations coordinator for the Georgia Museum of Art, the state’s largest public-funded art museum. While there, Johnathan discovered an interest in fundraising communications, which led to his own business, Front Porch Consulting, a public relations practice focused on not-for-profits.

Johnathan began his career as a part-time reporter at the Athens Banner-Herald when he was a freshman at the University of Georgia. After graduating, he was assigned to the sports desk and won an Associated Press Sports Editors Award for Enterprise Writing during his first year on the job. In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant News Editor, where he acquired management skills supervising reporters whose tenure at the paper eclipsed his own.

He received his bachelor degree in Telecommunications Management from the Grady College at UGA, focusing on radio, television and online journalism. His minor was in Political Science.

A native of Augusta, GA, Johnathan now lives in Bogart with his wife, Julie, and daughter, Emma Kate. He is Vice President of the Athens Area Homeless Shelter and serves on the Board of Deacons at First Baptist Church of Athens. His community leadership was recognized by the Athens Banner Herald, which named him a “40 Under 40” rising star in 2011. He admits to being the family cook and has recurring fantasies about one day opening a seaside bar and grill.