If Connor McCarthy looks familiar, you’ve probably seen him on TV. Before joining Gard in July as an Account Manager, he was an on-air reporter covering news across Oregon.
It was a fast-paced and sometimes thrilling job that taught him to think on his feet and be ready for anything. Now he’s using those skills at Gard, where he still gets to learn something new every day and be part of current events – but not before dawn.
Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new food and spending time with his partner, Jack, and his dog, Ziggy. These days, you’re more likely to see him at his favorite sushi restaurant (Saburo in Southeast Portland) or on his favorite hike (McNeil Point on Mt. Hood) than on TV.
He took some time to tell us about his transition from TV to Gard and some of his proudest moments as a reporter, including winning an Emmy for his wildfire coverage. His favorite news assignment? The airport during the holidays.
What do you do at Gard?
I’m an Account Manager. This job is as it sounds: I manage Gard’s accounts. I work with our clients to develop meaningful and long-lasting relations. I’m there when they have questions about projects, need to bounce ideas off me or want help pitching stories to the media. I’m also the “conductor” of projects for clients. I make sure everyone is hitting their deadlines, so the train arrives at its destination on time. I love how everyone at Gard is very professional and personable. The office feels like a team, and everyone wants to help each other succeed.
What did you like about being an on-air reporter, and how do you use that experience in your work at Gard?
Being an on-air reporter is a very demanding and unique job. You go into the newsroom almost every day, not knowing what you will do for work. I loved that aspect. Every day was different. I had to quickly become an expert in my story, get interviews, write and then be live on T.V. at 4 p.m. I loved being at breaking news scenes, thinking on my feet and updating viewers in real time about what was happening in their community. This fast-paced critical thinking is something that translates over to any job, including Gard. If a client needs something in a short amount of time, I am comfortable buckling down and getting to work. The thrill of learning something new every day still applies to Gard because each client has different communication objectives, audiences and industries.
What story are you most proud of?
My proudest moment is winning an Emmy for my coverage of the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires in Oregon. Holding that statue is not just what every broadcast journalist dreams of, but it represents the work and dedication during the wildfires to tell viewers lifesaving information. Some frightening moments put my safety in jeopardy, but it was worth it to help inform the community.
Could you share another story about being a reporter?
One of my favorite stories I ever wrote was about a high school speech and debate team in Northeast Portland that needed to raise money to go to the national tournament. This program was at a low-income school and started three years prior. As someone who did speech and debate in high school, I had a personal interest in doing this story. After the story aired, the team was able to reach its $10,000 goal on GoFundMe and go to the national tournament. It felt good knowing that not only did people listen and find interest in my story, but I also made an impact on these teenagers’ lives. Going to the national tournament is one thing, but I hope that moment, and what I did to help them, inspires them to continue to dream big.
What led you to this work?
As long as I can remember, I have been interested in current events and issues. I used to sit down with my parents every evening after school to watch our local news in San Diego. This sparked my passion to work in the field of communications and instilled a passion to chase my dreams. Working as a reporter was an experience I will never forget, but over time, the negatives of the job started to impact my mental health. The job requires you to be “on” 24/7, be prepared for schedules that can range from early mornings (before the sunrises) to late evenings, and take very negative, sometimes even threatening criticism from strangers. Gard offered a way for me to still be part of current events in a new way. I couldn’t be happier!
What inspires you?
In a world where the news cycle spins faster than ever before and misinformation can drown out facts, it’s more important than ever to be in the communications field. Whether it’s in journalism, public relations, marketing or advertising, I want to be part of giving the public accurate and ethical information. Communications professionals have a responsibility to steer the public away from what’s false and steer them toward the truth. I believe that’s what my role is in our society.
If you were not doing this job, what would you want to be doing?
I’d be traveling the world reviewing airlines and their business-class products through blog/social media posts. I’m a big aviation geek. If I could spend my whole day at the airport watching planes take off and land, I would. As a reporter, I loved covering aviation news, travel news and the holidays. This meant I could spend my day at PDX!
Where did you grow up, and what was unique about it?
San Diego! The city’s slogan is “America’s finest city.” After leaving there, I can see why. The sun is out most of the year and everyone is in a great mood. There are beaches, mountains, hiking trails, big-name concerts, craft breweries, wineries and professional sports. It’s only a two-hour drive from L.A. and Palm Springs, where there is even more to do. If I want to go to Mexico, the border is next door, and there’s easy access to Tijuana International Airport, where you can fly anywhere in the country for almost half the price of flights out of the U.S.
What’s one of your favorite travel experiences?
My favorite travel experience was a nearly monthlong backpacking adventure in Europe. My goal was to do a trip like this after college, but I didn’t have the funds. Luckily, I got bumped twice from a flight from Phoenix, and American Airlines credited me enough money to buy a plane ticket to Europe. I spent the month exploring London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Vienna, Venice and Munich. My phone and wallet were stolen the first week I was there, but in hindsight, I appreciated it. Not having a phone forced me to stay present and enjoy the moment of exploring places I had never been before.