Regina McCombs, a passionate visual journalist and educator, has made a remarkable impact in newsrooms and in the classroom.
Regina McCombs, a passionate visual journalist and educator, has made a remarkable impact in both the journalism industry and the academic world. As a faculty member of the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, McCombs teaches visual journalism and serves as associate director for outreach and engagement at the Minnesota Journalism Center.
We sat down with her to learn more about the knowledge and insights she has about photojournalism and the broader journalism community.
A Diverse Career Path in Journalism
McCombs didn’t begin her career with journalism in mind. She had a communications major with an English minor and believed that she wanted to go into television writing in the future. “I didn’t come out of school thinking I was going to be a journalist,” she said.
However, after starting her professional journey, she quickly found herself gravitating toward the production side of media rather than writing. Her first few jobs involved production work, where she discovered a passion for the process. This eventually led her to a position as a video editor at KARE 11, a television station in the Twin Cities. At KARE, she also worked as a videojournalist, marking the beginning of her career in journalism.
Over time, McCombs expanded her knowledge in photography, audio and other elements of multimedia storytelling.
From the Industry to the Classroom
Before teaching at the Hubbard School, McCombs gained experience at Minnesota Public Radio, where she served as senior editor for visual news; and the Poynter Institute, where she taught multimedia journalism. She also worked as a multimedia photographer and editor at the Star Tribune for 11 years. Her diverse career experiences have equipped her with a unique perspective that she now brings to her role as an educator.
One noteworthy aspect of her teaching is her focus on practical, hands-on learning. McCombs is committed to providing students the opportunity to use real equipment and gain firsthand experience in the field of visual journalism.
Her approach aligns with her belief that combining video, photography and audio can create powerful narratives. She strives to help students grasp the significance of visual storytelling and how it can effectively communicate complex issues—an approach that is even more crucial in today’s fast-paced, image-driven media landscape. “Photojournalism builds bridges and connections between the viewer and the person in the image,” she said.
Northern Exposure: A Hub for Photographers
McCombs is also deeply involved in the local photojournalism community, particularly through the Northern Exposure conference. Northern Exposure is an event designed to bring together photojournalists from the Twin Cities area, provide learning opportunities, and create a space for networking and collaboration.
- Register: Northern Exposure 2025 — April 4-5
McCombs plays an active role in organizing and running the conference, working alongside university staff and local photographers.
One of the primary goals of Northern Exposure is to help students connect with professionals, see the impact of their work, and develop their own skills. The conference is not just a learning experience but a supportive environment where both students and professionals can exchange ideas and foster relationships. “It’s turned as much into a social thing as a learning thing,” she said.
The Power of Photography in Journalism
One of McCombs’ proudest accomplishments is her work on an exhibit that documented the George Floyd protests. The exhibit, which showcased powerful images from the protests in Minneapolis, reflected the tremendous efforts made by photographers during this monumental event. McCombs played a central role in organizing the exhibit, which featured 54 images out of over 500 that were submitted.
The exhibit was well-received, with many viewers describing the experience as deeply moving. “People talked about how touching it was,” she said. She noted that the exhibit not only provided an important public service by documenting a pivotal moment in history, but it also became a therapeutic space for photographers, many of whom had witnessed the stress and trauma of covering the protests firsthand.
Hubbard Hot Take
“I think many students don’t know about the incredible television and photo studio we have in the basement of Murphy Hall,” McCombs said.
Learn More
Learn more about McCombs and her work on her website, reginamccombs.com.
Learn more about the courses she teaches.
By Kate Henning, Backpack student
