Background
McGinty was born in Washington, District of Columbia.
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Derek McGinty
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He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, and he graduated in 1977. McGinty graduated from American University in Washington, District of Columbia in 1981, receiving a bachelor"s degree in communications.
Career
McGinty was inspired to pursue a career in journalism after attending an assembly where a local news legend Jim Vance spoke on behalf of his profession. McGinty spent much of his early career hosting a radio talk show called The Derek McGinty Show from 1991 to 1998 on WAMU in Washington. Before that, he was a newsman on WHUR-FM, Howard University"s commercial radio station.
In October 1997, McGinty began to appear as a freelance reporter on the Columbia Broadcasting System news program Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel.
After several months, he made the move permanent and left WAMU in January 1998. McGinty has also appeared on American Broadcasting Company"s World News Now, American Broadcasting Company"s World News This Morning, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on Home Box Office and WUSA"s Eye on Washington.
In August 2015, his contract was not renewed for on-air news anchoring, but he announced that he would continue to host WUSA"s Sunday morning show Capital Download.
Politics
There he covered local and national politics, hosted segments with "the computer guys", and offered a broad, eclectic mix of guests. During his time as anchor at WUSA"s evening and late-night news broadcasts, McGinty also hosted the show"s "McGinty"s Mail Bag" segment, reading and responding to viewer mail.
