Broadcast journalist Christy McDonald leaving Detroit's WDIV news team
Christy McDonald is the latest well-known Detroit broadcast journalist to announce she is leaving WDIV-TV's Local 4 News team.
McDonald posted Tuesday on her LinkedIn account that, after marking her 30-year anniversary in TV news this January, she recently made a big decision.
'I asked to step away from my most recent role at WDIV Local 4 creating streaming programming and anchoring special coverage,' she wrote. 'It has been an incredible honor to be part of WDIV's rich history and work alongside some of the best in the industry.'McDonald continued: 'And yet, one of the great privileges in this business is leaving on your own terms. Another is embracing the chance to reinvent yourself.'
There was no mention of when McDonald will be leaving. Efforts to reach McDonald and WDIV general manager Bob Ellis were not successful.
More: Saying goodbye to Detroit TV news greats who died in 2024
More: Detroit said so long to some old friends in 2024 as TV news stars retired or moved on
An Emmy-winning anchor and reporter, McDonald has had a long, distinguished career in the Detroit market. That includes her decade-plus stint with Detroit Public TV, where she was managing editor and anchor for that station's 'One Detroit' politics and news show.
Through the years, McDonald also has been a production assistant at WJBK (Fox 2 Detroit), a reporter at Flint's WJRT and a reporter and anchor for WXYZ (7 News Detroit).
McDonald, a popular moderator for events like the Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Policy Conference, Mackinac Policy Conference, also has made many appearances on CNN and the "PBS NewsHour" to talk about issues important to the city and to Michigan, according to her WDIV biography.
Numerous veterans have left Local 4 News since July 2024, when about 20 on-air and behind-the-camera staffers departed through a voluntary buyout. That group included longtime sports anchor Bernie Smilovitz, reporters Mara MacDonald and Paula Tutman, business editor Rod Meloni, photojournalist Tim Pamplin (better known as Nightcam) and director of local programming Ro Coppola.
In December, lead WDIV anchor Devin Scillian retired from the station. During his last Sunday hosting the weekly political talk show 'Flashpoint,' he revealed that McDonald would be taking over the host role. Then, in January, WDIV morning host Jason Colthorp was announced as the new 'Flashpoint' host.
McDonald joined Local 4 News in October 2022. 'I have long admired the station's commitment to community, information and connection and the call to join Local 4 came at the right time,' she wrote at that time on the station's ClickOnDetroit website.
In the essay, McDonald explained how, in January 2021, she "took a bit of a breather" from working after losing her husband, beloved Detroit radio personality Jamie Samuelsen, to colon cancer in August 2020. She wrote that "for all the caregivers out there and then those who have experienced grief – you probably understand the sheer exhaustion and need to reset."
In her Tuesday LinkedIn post, McDonald shared hints to stay tuned for her next career movie. 'I've always believed in trusting your gut—and mine is telling me it's time for something new. There's a chapter ahead, something waiting to be explored, learned, and shared. And when the time is right, I can't wait to bring you along on my journey. '
Concluded McDonald, 'For now, here's to taking a leap!'
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Christy McDonald is leaving Local 4 News team at WDIV in Detroit
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