Brooke Herbert is a documentary filmmaker and visual journalist whose work often explores how people are shaped by forces beyond their control — how larger political and economic realities play out within the private worlds of individuals and families. She is currently producing a multi-part documentary series about immigration for Oregon Public Broadcasting and PBS.

Previously, Brooke was a producer and director with Blue Chalk Media and also worked on the photo desk at the Chicago Tribune. She has spent several years living between the U.S. and New Delhi, India.

A first-generation college student, Brooke earned her M.A. from Ohio University, where she taught photojournalism, and her B.F.A. from the University of Louisville’s Hite Institute of Art + Design, near her hometown in Kentucky. She grew up in a working-class family in rural southern Indiana, in a 1914 farmhouse 30 miles from Louisville, with five siblings and a lot of bug bites.

Her interest in documentary work began early: first, when she claimed her late grandfather’s piles of National Geographic magazines, which he hoarded in his trailer in Kentucky (thanks, Bob Yager); and second, when one of her teachers showed her Hoop Dreams. She spent about a week trying to shoot hoops in her driveway, quickly learned that sports were not her strength, and figured maybe she could make documentaries instead.

Her first camera was ordered from the back of a cereal box when she was eight years old. It was plastic, had no viewfinder, and was her favorite toy.

Brooke is a member of Women Photograph and The Journal collective. She lives in Oregon.

Say hi: abrookeherbert[at]gmail.com

+1 503-444-1831 (US)

RECOGNITION

2026

AACR, June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

Best of the West, Second Place, Video Storytelling

Society for Professional Journalists, First place, Technology & Science Reporting

2025

Emmys, Winner, Long-Form Documentary

Emmys, Winner, Arts and Entertainment (Longform)

Webby Awards, People's Voice Winner in the Video & Film, Public Service & Activism category

The Telly Awards, Gold Winner, General History (social media video)

2022

Society for Professional Journalists, First place, Video

ONPA, First Place, Best Online Multimedia Element

Best of the West, First place, Video Storytelling

2021

Emmys, Nominee, Interactive Media

Emmys, Nominee, Documentary - Topical

Emmys, Nominee, Environment/Science - News

NPPA Best of Photography, Second place, Video and Documentary

Society for Professional Journalists, First place, Video Feature, Hard News

Society for Features Journalism, First place, Video Storytelling

2020

Emmys, Nominee, arts and entertainment

Emmys, Nominee, Branded Content

Emmys, Nominee, Public Affairs

Emmys, Nominee, Craft Category: Photographer

Society for Features Journalism, First Place, Video Storytelling

SELECTED CLIENTS & PUBLICATIONS

ProPublica

TIME

The Intercept

High Country News

CBS News

Getty

Blue Chalk Media

Voice of America

Chicago Tribune

CARE International

The Olympic Channel

The Oregonian

Oregon Public Broadcasting

HBO Max

Associated Press

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS

Part 107 Drone Pilot
Wilderness First Aid