I was a staff writer for The Hook and later wrote for Takepart.com before returning to freelancing and running The DTM.  A series of investigative stories I wrote for The Hook on the suicide of Virginia Quarterly Review managing editor Kevin Morrissey attracted national news coverage [ABCNews, NBC Today Show, LA Times, New York Times], led to a national discussion about workplace bullying, and prompted the University of Virginia to launch an initiative to address the issue. I also investigated what was behind a faulty, $2-million software package that was purchased by the Albemarle County School system, and my investigations into the local trash and recycling business was recognized by the Virginia Press Association as “truly a public service to your readers.” With my colleagues at The Hook, I also shared the VPA’s Award for Journalistic Integrity & Public Service for my coverage of the attempted ouster of then UVA President Teresa Sullivan. For TakePart.com, I examined the legacy of sexual assault at UVA, interviewed a young activist in Pakistan trying to end the practice of child marriages, wrote about an animal rights journalist being targeted by the FBI, and covered developments in technology and social justice across Africa. For The DTM, my coverage of two Black men wrongly accused of committing a random “knockout attack” on a white couple on the Downtown Mall (Gawker) as well as my coverage and analysis of the KKK and Unite the Right rallies in August 2017, prompted this from the executive editor of Fast Company Magazine: “good stuff from what seems to be the best news source in Charlottesville.”

Years later, I still get emails about this story I wrote about rock star Dave Matthews and the tragic suicide of a local musician.

On a lighter note, I wrote about the local restaurant scene and development for several years, seniors issues for the Daily Progress, and even wrote some satirical news.

My fiction has also appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, and other literary journals. In 2021, I was the runner-up in the Sewanee Review’s annual fiction contest.

Reach out at dsmcnair@gmail.com or on twitter at @DSMcNair

David McNair