KC McGinnis Published in The Washington Post

May 2, 2025

KC McGinnis, Professor of Practice II in Communication & Media Practice at Grand View University, recently had his investigative photojournalism featured in The Washington Post. The article, titled “California draws ire as out-of-state factory farms turn pig poop into cash”, explores how large-scale livestock operations are capitalizing on California’s climate credit program and sparking controversy and environmental concern in rural communities across the Midwest.

KC reflects, "I used a combination of conventional and drone photography to document an important agriculture story that affects farmers and rural residents across the country. I’m excited to talk with students in my upcoming Communication Topics course on Photojournalism about the process behind long, investigative projects like this."

Beyond national recognition, the project highlights how powerful visual storytelling can be in showing the real-world impact of complex policies. McGinnis’s photos help bring attention to rural communities that often go unheard, using tools like drone photography to give a broader view of what's happening on the ground. His hands-on experience will offer students a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into investigative journalism.