Encyclopedia Of Detroit

Seasoned journalist Devin Scillian was born at Fort Riley, a U.S. Army base in the Kansas heartland, on January 11, 1963. After graduating from high school in nearby Junction City, Scillian enrolled at the University of Kansas. During his time at KU, Scillian made his first foray into television at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. Scillian later worked at WAND in Decatur, Illinois, KLTV in Tyler, Texas, and KFOR in Oklahoma City following his graduation from the William Allen White School of Journalism in 1985. During his tenure in Oklahoma City, the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in April 1995 devastated the city. The journalists at KFOR were recognized with a Peabody Award for their coverage of the event. 

Scillian arrived in Detroit to work at WDIV Channel 4 as a reporter in August 1995. After a year, he was promoted to anchor. To discuss the pressing political and community issues of the day, Scillian created and hosts Flashpoint on Sunday mornings for WDIV. His commitment to journalistic integrity has been recognized by his peers as a four-time recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award. On the lighter side, Scillian also anchors “Breaking News” and “Anything’s Better Than the Real News News” on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  

When away from the anchor desk, Scillian is an award-winning author and country music musician. Beginning with A is for America, Scillian has delighted kids across the country through over 20 children's books. His writing was recognized by the Michigan Reading Association with the Gwen Frostic Award in 2017. A talented musician and singer-songwriter, Scillian is a two-time Detroit Music Awards winner (Best Country Performer in 2001 and Best Country Vocalist in 2018).