Madison Holcomb: Multimedia Reporter

I’m a multimedia and investigative reporter on the civics and community engagement beat, which focuses on politics, local governance and accountability and how community members engage with their environment, each other and people in power. I love tracking the local and regional impacts of nationwide movements and issues, as well as keeping a close eye on our public officials to ensure they’re doing their jobs. 

I graduated from the University of Illinois in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in sustainability, energy and the environment. Previously, I interned at various public radio stations and nonprofit newsrooms. Currently, I’m a Chips Quinn Reporting Fellow and a member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors organization. 

Having been raised in a rural Illinois farm town, I often feel myself relating to much of the community in Shasta County. One of my goals through working here is to balance the often overly sensationalized way this region is represented in the national news by showing the beauty of Shasta’s communities. In addition to that, I also understand that Shasta is in need of journalists who can hold powerful people and institutions to account. Both are missions that drive my reporting at Shasta Scout.