Devin Scillian
Encyclopedia
Devin Scillian is an American journalist
and children's author. His thirteen books include the national bestseller A Is For America (2001), Fibblestax (2000), and Memoirs of a Goldfish (2010). His most recent book is D Is For Down Under: An Australia Alphabet illustrated by Geoff Cook, published by Sleeping Bear Press in 2010. He's co-written two books with his wife, Corey. "One Kansas Farmer," illustrated by Doug Bowles, was released in 2009. Their previous book, S Is For Sunflower, won the Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award in 2007. Among his fans is former First Lady Laura Bush
who invited him to read at the White House for the 2004 Easter Egg Roll.
As a broadcast journalist, Scillian rose to prominence for his marathon coverage of the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building from the anchor desk of NBC affiliate KFOR-TV
in 1995. The coverage he led brought the station a Peabody Award
. He currently anchors the primary newscasts for WDIV-TV
, the NBC
affiliate in Detroit. In 2009, his documentary on the search for the automotive fuel of the future, "Fuel's Gold," won an Edward R. Murrow Award
, one of the highest honors in journalism. He previously won a Murrow Award in 2007 for "The China Syndrome", a documentary about the crisis in American manufacturing. He also hosts the Sunday morning news program "Flashpoint" on WDIV.
While still a student at the University of Kansas
, Scillian began his television career at WIBW-TV
in Topeka, Kansas
. After graduating from the William Allen White School of Journalism at Kansas, Scillian worked from 1985 to 1986 at WAND-TV in Decatur, Illinois. He spent the next three years as the main anchor at KLTV
in Tyler, Texas
, before moving to KFOR in Oklahoma City in 1989.
His first published children's book was Fibblestax, the story of a boy who wins the right to name every single thing in the world. A is For America followed in 2001. It's serendipitous release just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks made it a national bestseller, especially popular among teachers. Also a songwriter and musician, Scillian released a companion CD of the same title. The A Is For America album is a child's country and western musical tour of American history.
Scillian's music has found success in Europe. His 2000 album, Tulsa, released on High Heel Records received little airplay in the United States, but several singles landed on the country charts in Europe including "Half Past You" which hit number one in Denmark
in the spring of 2005.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and children's author. His thirteen books include the national bestseller A Is For America (2001), Fibblestax (2000), and Memoirs of a Goldfish (2010). His most recent book is D Is For Down Under: An Australia Alphabet illustrated by Geoff Cook, published by Sleeping Bear Press in 2010. He's co-written two books with his wife, Corey. "One Kansas Farmer," illustrated by Doug Bowles, was released in 2009. Their previous book, S Is For Sunflower, won the Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award in 2007. Among his fans is former First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
who invited him to read at the White House for the 2004 Easter Egg Roll.
As a broadcast journalist, Scillian rose to prominence for his marathon coverage of the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building from the anchor desk of NBC affiliate KFOR-TV
KFOR-TV
KFOR-TV, virtual channel 4 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. KFOR-TV is owned by Local TV, a subsidiary of the private equity group Oak Hill Capital Partners, in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUT-TV ; its studios are located at 444 East Britton Road in...
in 1995. The coverage he led brought the station a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
. He currently anchors the primary newscasts for WDIV-TV
WDIV-TV
WDIV-TV, virtual channel 4, is an NBC-affiliated television station based in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is owned by Post-Newsweek Stations and is the flagship station and home base of the group with the offices of the group located alongside WDIV's studios; the "Local" branding now...
, the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate in Detroit. In 2009, his documentary on the search for the automotive fuel of the future, "Fuel's Gold," won an Edward R. Murrow Award
Edward R. Murrow Award
The Edward R. Murrow Awards are presented by the Radio-Television News Directors Association in recognition of what the Association terms "outstanding achievements in electronic journalism."-Judging:...
, one of the highest honors in journalism. He previously won a Murrow Award in 2007 for "The China Syndrome", a documentary about the crisis in American manufacturing. He also hosts the Sunday morning news program "Flashpoint" on WDIV.
While still a student at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Scillian began his television career at WIBW-TV
WIBW-TV
WIBW-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Topeka, Kansas. It broadcasts a digital signal on VHF channel 13 and its digital translator on UHF channel 44. Both operating frequencies are transmitted in Maple Hill. Owned by Gray Television, the station has studios at Southwest Commerce Place...
in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. After graduating from the William Allen White School of Journalism at Kansas, Scillian worked from 1985 to 1986 at WAND-TV in Decatur, Illinois. He spent the next three years as the main anchor at KLTV
KLTV
KLTV is the ABC-affiliated television station for East Texas that is licensed to Tyler. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter in Red Springs...
in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, before moving to KFOR in Oklahoma City in 1989.
His first published children's book was Fibblestax, the story of a boy who wins the right to name every single thing in the world. A is For America followed in 2001. It's serendipitous release just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks made it a national bestseller, especially popular among teachers. Also a songwriter and musician, Scillian released a companion CD of the same title. The A Is For America album is a child's country and western musical tour of American history.
Scillian's music has found success in Europe. His 2000 album, Tulsa, released on High Heel Records received little airplay in the United States, but several singles landed on the country charts in Europe including "Half Past You" which hit number one in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in the spring of 2005.