During his tenure at TIME (1998-2005), McCarthy served as the Los Angeles Bureau Chief and East Asia Correspondent in Shanghai.

[7][8] He wrote about China's internet and car industries, the fall of Indonesian dictator Suharto and the death of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot.

From LA he did in-depth stories about the Green River serial killer in Seattle, the fight over new oil drilling in Alaska and the science of sharks.

[9][10] He traveled down the Yangtze River in China, focusing on the economic, political and environmental impact of the man-made waterway.

[19][20][21][22] In 2011, McCarthy received an Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Coverage and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Video News Series for his work on the Afghan Bomb Squad.

[25] He interviewed speakers including Timothy Geithner, Elon Musk, Stanley McChrystal, John McCain and Bill Clinton.