When you watch major national news broadcasts, you see the anchors, the graphics, and the breaking headlines. But you don’t see the person literally carrying the weight of the production on their shoulders.
For Mount Saint Mary College alumnus Brian Punturieri ’07, that weight is about 65 pounds.
As a veteran Steadicam operator for Fox News, Fox Business, and Fox Weather, Brian has spent nearly two decades capturing history through the lens of a camera. From high-energy studio shows to presidential debates and NFL broadcasts, his career is a testament to technical skill, physical endurance, and the foundational training he received right here in Newburgh.
We caught up with Brian to talk about his 19-year career, his pivot from IT to TV, and how a student club (and a room raiding ninja) shaped his life.
What’s your title at Fox? What are your responsibilities?
I’m a camera operator for Fox News, Fox Business, and Fox Weather, all of which are located within the same facility. I’ve been with the company for nearly 19 years.
My role involves working with a wide range of broadcast camera systems. My primary position is as a Steadicam operator, managing a body-mounted camera rig that weighs approximately 65 pounds. I am also skilled in operating jib cameras, handheld cameras, various robotic camera systems, and studio pedestal cameras.
Earlier in my career, I also served as a teleprompter operator and worked as a utility operator, responsible for managing camera cables to ensure safe, smooth movement for handheld and Steadicam operators.
What shows do you work on?
On a daily basis, I primarily operate the Steadicam for two Fox News programs: The Faulkner Focus and Outnumbered.
The Faulkner Focus features a single host – Harris Faulkner – covering breaking news, major events, and in-studio interviews. Outnumbered features a panel of four women: three permanent hosts (Harris Faulkner, Emily Compagno, and Kayleigh McEnany) and a fourth rotating female guest each day. They are joined by one male guest seated at the center of the curved couch, which is how the show gets its name.
For both programs, I am constantly moving through the studio with the Steadicam, capturing whatever shots the director calls for, whether it’s bump shots of the studio, close-ups of on-air talent, wide shots of the LED video walls, or coverage of props and demonstrations on set.
Once those two shows wrap, I’m available to step in wherever needed. If someone calls out or if there’s overtime available, I cover additional programming across Fox News, Fox Business, or Fox Weather. In my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to work on virtually every show produced in the building, and I’ve even traveled to location events like presidential debates and town halls all across the country. I even had the opportunity to work on Fox’s Thursday Night Football coverage with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Michael Strahan out of our Fox News studios.
How did your time at the Mount prepare you for this long-term career?
With the support of the Career Center, my professors, and even my fellow classmates, the Mount truly launched the television career I’ve been fortunate to build. They helped secure the internship that opened the door to Fox, an opportunity that, with a lot of hard work, grew into the full-time career I still enjoy today.
Professor J.C. Barone played a major role in shaping my path. He showed me how exciting, creative, and rewarding a career in television could be. And without Kathleen O’Keefe from the Career Center, I may never have gotten my foot in the door at Fox in the first place.
The Mount opened my eyes – and many doors – setting me on the path I’m still on and still loving every single day.
How did being in the Video Club help shape your path?
Believe it or not, that video club was where it all started for me. When I first started at the Mount, I was actually an IT major. But with help from people at the Mount, I was encouraged to go to the Club Fair to see what else might interest me.
That is where I discovered the Video Club. After talking with Joe Brinson ’05, the club’s creator and president of the MSMCTV station at the time, I quickly learned that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to work with cameras and everything else that came along with the world of television – lighting, audio, design, producing, directing, and editing. I learned so much from that club, as well as from my media courses throughout my time at the Mount.
What are some of your favorite memories from the Mount?
Some of my favorite memories are the simple moments spent with friends: going to campus events like Mount Olympics or the Bonfire, or just hanging out and soaking in campus life. I spent countless days and late nights in the TV studio creating content for MSMCTV with some of my closest friends. We even made our own Mount-style remake of the classic MTV show Room Raiders, hosted by our unforgettable ninja, Matt Frey ’05!
Whether I was working the lights, running audio, operating the switcher, or working behind the camera, the studio was the place where I felt most at home.
The Mount had an enormous impact on my life. Without it, I might never have discovered the career I love and continue to thrive in today. Just as importantly, it’s where I met my amazing wife, Christina. We first crossed paths in Dr. Shea’s English 101 class during our freshman year. That single moment led to a life together and our three wonderful children.
I truly owe the Mount so much – not only for shaping my career, but for shaping the life and family I’m fortunate to have today.
Do you have any advice for current students?
Enjoy everything the Mount has to offer. It’s an incredible place with a tight-knit community that’s hard to find anywhere else. There’s always someone willing to help, always someone in your corner, and you’ll make friendships that last a lifetime. And if you’re lucky, like I was, you might even meet the love of your life.
The Mount truly changed my life for the better. It led me down a path I never expected, but one I’m deeply grateful for every day.