Education and Early Career
Matthew was raised in Toms River, NJ, where his natural curiosity helped guide his early ambitions. With one parent working in law and the other in psychology, he gained perspectives that emphasized both analytical thinking and human behavior These influences, combined with his own academic discipline, pushed him toward a career in journalism.
He attended a boarding school in Pennsylvania before enrolling at Clark University in Massachusetts At Clark, he studied Political Science and Psychology, two areas that suited his interest in people and institutions. These studies gave him insight into how narratives are built and how stories are communicated to audiences in meaningful ways
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993, Carluccio moved to New York City to pursue a television career His first professional position was as an Assistant to the Executive Producer at King World TV, a syndication company known for distributing highly popular programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Jeopardy This experience introduced him to the structure and pace of television production, while allowing him to learn directly from experienced executives
He soon joined NBC as an Associate Producer for Dateline NBC In this role, he worked on long-format stories, investigative reports, and general assignments. His responsibilities included off-air reporting, booking, writing, and editing These tasks strengthened his editorial skills and gave him exposure to a broad range of journalism
Over time, Matthew produced hundreds of reports while also taking on complex field assignments His international work included coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom from Jordan, Iraq, and Afghanistan After a period working with NBC’s Chicago Bureau, he was chosen to lead a task force reporting on the criminal case involving Michael Jackson in Southern California
In 2005, he moved into the TODAY brand as an anchor producer. In this position, he frequently traveled with anchors to cover significant stories and managed broadcasts from a wide variety of locations He produced coverage from Cuba, Belize, the Vatican, and Antarctica, where he contributed to the first live network news broadcast from the South Pole Station. In addition, he played a key role in NBC’s Olympic coverage, beginning in Torino in 2006 and continuing through Beijing in 2022
Management
By 2008, Carluccio had been promoted to Supervising Producer at TODAY. In this role, he managed a team of ten while also directing editorial assignments His leadership required a balance of judgment and coordination to ensure accuracy and efficiency
In 2011, he advanced to Senior Producer Here, he was responsible for overseeing the program’s first hour and managing a broader team of producers, writers, and researchers Under his leadership, TODAY maintained its dominant position as the top-rated morning program for an unprecedented 16 consecutive years.
In 2014, he became Executive Producer of the weekend editions of TODAY. In this capacity, he oversaw all production and editorial decision-making, while also mentoring emerging talent who would go on to become anchors on the program
Two years later, in 2016, Matthew was allowed to create and launch a new program within the TODAY franchise This effort resulted in Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist, which has since become a respected and successful addition to NBC’s lineup Nearly a decade later, the show continues to perform strongly in both ratings and critical reception
In 2020, his responsibilities expanded further when he was named Executive Producer of NBC News Specials In this position, he has overseen the network’s coverage of major national and international events, including conventions, debates, elections, inaugurations, and state funerals Among his most recent projects were coverage of the funeral and election of the Pope, the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the coronation of King Charles, and the 2024 Presidential election cycle
His achievements in these roles have been recognized through multiple industry awards Carluccio has earned four Emmy Awards for TODAY and two additional Emmys for NBC News Specials Alongside his teams, he has also received three Edward R Murrow Awards for Breaking News, including consecutive honors 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 values family above all He has been married for 18 years and is the father of three boys Together with his wife and their two dogs, he resides in Northwest Philadelphia. Balancing the demands of family with the requirements of his career has made him a post-pandemic “super commuter,” a challenge he has embraced with determination
His interests outside of work are wide-ranging. Carluccio is an avid reader and podcast listener, while also following television and film He is active in his community through coaching youth baseball and flag football He also enjoys skiing and surfing At home, he often prepares Italian meals while supporting his lifelong favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees.
Matthew Carluccio has built a career defined by consistency, adaptability, and nearly three decades of commitment to journalism. From his early beginnings as an assistant to his leadership roles at NBC, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to guide teams and produce content that matters His achievements in broadcast journalism continue to leave an impact, ensuring that Matthew remains a respected figure in the industry
