Matthew Carluccio

Executive Producer, TODAY | NBC News Specials

Matthew Carluccio, an award-winning Executive Producer at NBC, has dedicated close to three decades to the craft of broadcast news production and editorial leadership. His long-standing career is marked by consistency, focus, and the ability to guide news programs that audiences trust. He has played key roles in shaping programming at Dateline NBC, TODAY, Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, and NBC News Specials. His leadership has not only supported some of the most-watched news broadcasts in the industry but has also earned him widespread respect among colleagues and recognition through prestigious awards.

He has built a reputation for managing high-pressure environments while making fast, thoughtful editorial decisions. His work has been repeatedly acknowledged with Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards, reflecting his strength in writing, breaking news, and overall newsroom excellence.

Education and Early Career

Matthew grew up in Toms River, NJ, where an early curiosity about the world guided his interests. Influences from his parents’ careers—law and psychology—together with his own strong academic habits, pointed him toward a profession in journalism.

His education began at a boarding school in Pennsylvania, where he developed a solid foundation for his future pursuits. He later attended Clark University in Massachusetts, where he studied Political Science and Psychology. These fields provided him with insight into how people and institutions operate, as well as how ideas and events are shaped into narratives that serve the public. This combination of studies prepared him for a future in journalism, where precise analysis and effective communication are essential.

After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993, he moved to New York City. His first step into the television industry was as an Assistant to the Executive Producer at King World TV, a company recognized for syndicating well-known daytime shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Jeopardy. In this early role, he learned the responsibilities and challenges of television production under the guidance of experienced professionals, laying the groundwork for his subsequent career.

Carluccio later joined NBC as an Associate Producer at Dateline NBC. There, he contributed to long-format programming, general news coverage, and investigative reporting. The role involved developing a broad skill set, including off-air reporting, political and crime research, guest booking, writing, and editing. It was during this time that he became more established as a producer, combining attention to detail with the ability to deliver relevant and compelling content.

Through the years that followed, he worked on hundreds of broadcast reports, sharpening his editorial judgment and learning to thrive in a highly competitive news industry. His career also expanded into significant field assignments, including reporting during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Jordan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Later, after working with NBC’s Chicago Bureau, he was selected to lead a news task force on the criminal case involving Michael Jackson in Southern California.

In 2005, Matthew transitioned to TODAY, where he worked as an anchor producer. In this role, he regularly joined on-air talent during major assignments and produced programming from diverse locations worldwide. Some of these included Cuba, Belize, the Vatican, and Antarctica, where he contributed to the first live network news broadcast from the South Pole Station. He also played a key role in NBC’s coverage of multiple Olympic Games, starting in Torino in 2006 and continuing through Beijing in 2022.

Management

In 2008, he was promoted to Supervising Producer at TODAY, where he directed assignments and managed a team of ten. By 2011, he advanced to Senior Producer, overseeing the first hour of the program and managing a larger staff of producers, writers, and researchers. During this period, TODAY maintained its position as the top morning program, a streak of leadership that lasted an unprecedented 16 years.

In 2014, Carluccio became Executive Producer for the weekend editions of TODAY. In this capacity, he made all production and editorial decisions while also recognizing and mentoring new on-air talent, several of whom later became anchors for the show.

Two years later, he was entrusted with launching a new program, which became Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist. The show, now nearing its 10th anniversary, quickly found success and established itself as both a ratings winner and a respected addition to the TODAY portfolio.

Since 2020, his role has expanded further as Executive Producer of NBC News Specials. This responsibility includes overseeing network coverage of major national and international events, such as elections, debates, conventions, state funerals, and other significant global moments. Among his most recent assignments were the funeral and election of the Pope, the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the coronation of King Charles, and coverage of the 2024 Presidential election cycle.

His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards. Carluccio has received four Emmy Awards for TODAY and two for NBC News Specials. Alongside his teams, he has also won three Edward R. Murrow Awards for Breaking News, including consecutive awards in 2023 and 2024 for coverage of Hamas’ attack on Israel and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

Personal Life

Beyond his professional life, he has always valued time with his family. He has been married for 18 years and is the father of three sons. The family also shares their home with two dogs. Living in Northwest Philadelphia, he balances family life with the demands of his work, often traveling as a “super commuter.”

His interests extend to sports, reading, and cooking. Carluccio enjoys coaching youth baseball and flag football, as well as activities such as surfing and skiing. At home, he often cooks Italian meals and follows his favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. He is also a regular podcast listener and an enthusiastic follower of television and film.

Matthew Carluccio has built a career that demonstrates focus, adaptability, and long-term dedication to journalism. His work in broadcast news production has shaped programming that continues to reach millions, while his leadership has guided teams to success across some of NBC’s most significant projects. His career stands as a testament to his commitment to delivering trusted news and building lasting contributions to the industry.