by
Devin Scillian
Detroit's WDIV lost a pool of talent in the latest round of buyouts, effective July 1. They included sportscaster Bernie Smilovitz and reporters Rod Meloni, Mara MacDonald, Paula Tutman and Tim Pamplin.
WDIV's Devin Scillian, 61, one of the more popular anchors in the Detroit market, had been rumored to be taking it at the time, but did not leave.
Now, Smilovitz, appearing Tuesday on the podcast M.L. Soul of Detroit, tells host, Detroit Free Press investigative columnist M.L. Elrick:
"The word is Devin took it, and he'll be out after the election; sort of held up the boat for a while here."
Smilovitz said 32 of 35 people took the buyout.
An industry observer tells Deadline Detroit that the rumor about Scilian appears to be true.
Scillian, in a text responded to Deadline Detroit:
"As a rule, I never talk about my contract situation. I've always thought it terribly unfair to the people I work with."
Bernie Smilovitz
Scillian joined WDIV in August, 1995 as a reporter and was elevated to the anchor position in 1996. He has won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award three times.
After graduating from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas in 1985, Scillian started at WIBW-TV in Topeka. He then went to WAND in Decatur, Illinois, KLTV in Tyler, Texas, and KFOR in Oklahoma City, where his around the clock coverage of the bombing at the Murrah Federal Building in 1995 helped the station win a Peabody Award, according to the station bio.
He is the author of 15 children's books, with "A is for America" becoming a national bestseller. In 2004, Laura Bush invited him to read at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
The bio also says:
An accomplished musician and songwriter, Devin has won the prestigious Detroit Music Award for Best Country Performer. He has released three albums of his original songs. He and his band "Arizona Son" make frequent appearances on the summer concert circuit. He's opened for Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, and LeAnn Rimes.
