Steve McKinney

Steve McKinney died at his home on the morning of Monday 5 October 2026, at the age of 64. No cause of death was made public. Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain said he visited the home shortly after the death and found him lying peacefully in bed with members of his family present.

Prime Minister Philip Davis issued a statement the same day, saying The Bahamas had lost "one of its finest journalists and a son who devoted much of his life to serving the public". FNM leader Michael Pintard called him one of the country's most recognisable voices. His death was reported by ZNS, Our News, The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune. Funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of the first reports.

Steve McKinney was born on 20 April 1962 to Louise Sands and William McKinney. He grew up in Chippingham, in Nassau, and remained closely connected to the community throughout his life.

He was educated at Aquinas College. Later in his career he completed journalism courses and professional training programmes in Jamaica, Canada and the United States.

McKinney began his journalism career as a cub reporter at The Tribune at the age of 17.

From The Tribune he moved into broadcasting at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (ZNS). He worked there as a reporter and sports editor, then rose to deputy director and eventually news director. A former colleague recalled that he brought a fresh perspective to sports coverage.

He later joined Bahamas Information Services, where he was a senior information officer and was involved in establishing BIS Broadcasting. He also served as a press attaché to the Prime Minister.

McKinney was involved in founding the Sports Journalists' Association and was among the journalists who helped establish the Bahamas Press Club.

He went on to create the McKinney Media Group, serving as its president and chief executive. The group included Five Star Films and Documentaries and the radio station Peace 107.5 FM, which he ran from his home and from his business base in Chippingham. As host of Hard Copy, and of The Last Word, he gave callers a platform to discuss political, social and national issues, and became known for his direct questioning of public figures.

His career included several controversies. In 2007 he was removed from his ZNS talk show Immediate Response following the general election, a matter later cited in discussions about political influence and independence at the state broadcaster. In 2011 he was dismissed as director of broadcasting at Bahamas Information Services after taking part in a demonstration against the proposed sale of a 51 percent stake in BTC to Cable and Wireless Communications. That year the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority also requested a copy of a Hard Copy programme as part of an inquiry into whether broadcasting rules had been breached. McKinney denied reports that the show had been taken off air, saying the issue was a copyright dispute because he owned the rights to Hard Copy.

McKinney was married to Treva McKinney. His family includes his daughter Stefka Woos and his son Stephen McKinney Jr., a cameraman and editor at Our News, who kept Peace 107.5 FM on air after his father's death. His daughters Trevone and Odia died before him.

His son described him as a patriot and "a Bahamian first" who would challenge wrongdoing by whichever party was in power, and as a wonderful father.

McKinney is remembered as a pioneer of Bahamian talk radio. Broadcaster Vaughn Albury, a childhood friend, called him "the face of the new talk shows that became what is today's media landscape". He helped shape the careers of many journalists, and his role in founding the Bahamas Press Club and the Sports Journalists' Association left a lasting mark on the profession.

Political leaders from different parties credited him with widening public debate. Michael Pintard said, "Our democracy is healthier because of his unforgettable voice."