STJ Alumnus Part of Emmy-Winning Team at
MSNBC
Before arriving at St. John’s University, Brian Drew ‘95SVC, knew
he would pursue a career in the media. “Like a lot of kids born in
the early-to-mid-70s, I was a child of Spielberg and Lucas. Cinema
and television seemed like a natural calling to me since I was 14
or 15. There was no doubt once I got to college that was what I
would pursue.”
A Producer/Editor on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,”
Brian is part of a team that recently won an Emmy in the
“Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis” category for a series of
segments produced for Ms. Maddow’s show while she was reporting
from Afghanistan, entitled, “Good Morning, Landlocked Central
Asia.”
A Definite Path
Brian’s decision to attend St. John’s was solidified after visiting
the University’s state-of-the-art
Television Center during an open house while he was a high
school senior. As a freshman, he majored in
Communications Arts, immediately joining the Television
Club and getting a part-time job in the Television
Center.
“It was a wonderful experience, and I wouldn’t be where I am now
without TV Club, my professors and working at the TV Center,” he
observed. “I made friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life,
who were also invaluable for helping me find a job after
graduation.”
While at St. John’s, Brian became accustomed to the often stressful
environment of producing a weekly television show, and discovered
the path he would follow once he graduated.
“I definitely focused on being an Editor near the end of my time at
St. John’s,” adding that in Television Club, “you learned what you
were good at. Before getting into a professional environment you
learned what your aptitudes were. It’s invaluable because you don’t
waste that time when you start your career.”
Brian eventually became President of Television Club during his
senior year. “I learned a tremendous amount about managing people,
about compromise and about putting yourself in a leadership role,”
he remarked.
During his time at St. John’s, Brian interned at several companies,
including WNBC, New York Life and “Geraldo.” “(Internships) are
essential because you experience a professional environment where
there’s real money on the line and real deadlines. You learn how to
comport yourself professionally.”
Networking and Hard Work
Brian credits the strong network of St. John’s graduates for
helping him get his foot at the door at MSNBC (where he has worked
for the last 15 years). “This business is all about networking.
Once you graduate and your friends spread out and get entrenched in
different places it can be very beneficial to those who
follow.”
He stressed, “I am where I am because a friend brought me in for an
interview and it went well. The rest is history. I would not be
here without my friends from school.”
Brian began his career “on the bottom rung” as a “Cuts Editor,”
honing his craft, learning to work on tight deadlines and
collaborating with show producers to provide them with what they
needed. He eventually worked his way up to non-linear digital
editing; doing show “opens” with special effects as well as longer
feature pieces.
Brian eventually joined the staff of “The News with Brian
Williams,” and worked there for much of its run, before joining
“The Abrams Report.” He then accepted a position at “Countdown with
Keith Olbermann,” where he worked for several years before taking
on his current role as a Producer/Editor on “The Rachel Maddow
Show.”
Their recent Emmy win, he said, was truly a group effort. “All the
raw material was sent to us (via satellite) and we cut it here at
30 Rock,” he noted, adding that it was particularly challenging
dealing with a 12-hour time difference, and wheedling down hours of
interviews into editorially coherent pieces.
After 15 years in the industry, Brian makes a priority of keeping
abreast of new trends and emerging technology. “This business
changes so rapidly. The key is to position yourself for what will
happen next. You have to be on point with emerging technology and
be willing to adapt. That’s what I would tell someone entering the
business today.”
Brian remains in close touch with many of his friends from the
Television Club, and his fondness for his time at St. John’s is
palpable. “It made me who I am today, no question, but what you
remember most are the people.”