DETROIT – Veteran TV news anchor and Detroit broadcasting legend Carmen Harlan has announced she will soon retire from WDIV-Local 4 following a broadcasting career spanning four decades.
“About 18 months ago, Carmen came to me to say that she wanted to retire in the near future. I wanted to pretend that I didn’t hear her. There is only one Carmen Harlan and I wish she would stay forever, but I understand her desire to spend more time with her children and their families,” said Marla Drutz vice-president and general manager. “She is a class act who has been a true booster for this city.”
RELATED: Viewers, colleagues send Carmen Harlan well wishes on retirement
“In the newsroom, Carmen is often called ‘The Queen’ because she is. She is a true professional who can go between the hard-hitting stories that Detroit and Local 4 is known for, to creating levity on set and bringing out the best in our anchor teams. She always nails it.” said Kim Voet, news director. “She will be tremendously missed by every person at our station.”
A native Detroiter, Harlan began her broadcasting career in Detroit radio before joining WDIV-Local 4 in 1978 as a general assignment reporter. Not long after, she was promoted to news anchor with legendary newsman Mort Crim. For more than 20 years, Harlan has been partnered with anchor Devin Scillian for the station’s early evening and late news programs, making them Detroit’s longest running anchor team.
When Harlan started at WDIV, it was a last placed newscast, and she has dedicated her entire career to helping Local 4 to become one of the most respected and top rated affiliates in the country. “Local 4 is the station viewers turn to for the big story, the important story. I’m proud to say we have maintained our dominance over the decades, and I’m proud to have been a part of this team,” says Harlan.
A lifelong champion of Detroit, Harlan has hosted many of this region’s big events like America’s Thanksgiving Parade, The Ford Fireworks and the NAIAS Charity Preview. She always had a major role in station campaigns like Walk on the Wild Side, Choice of the Century, Detroit 300, Time to Care, Home 4 the Holidays, and two Olympic torch relays.
Throughout her career, Harlan has not only anchored the news but also traveled the world reporting on some of the most notable stories of the day. Harlan covered the historic Michigan visit by Pope John Paul II in 1987, the legendary Detroit arrival of South African President Nelson Mandela in 1990, President Barack Obama’s inaugurations in 2009 and 2013 and, most memorably, the 2010 Haitian earthquake relief effort. She has also interviewed countless dignitaries, world, business, and religious leaders as well as entertainers.
Harlan will take on an ambassador role with the station which will allow for promotional and special event projects. She plans on spending more time with her family. “As a grandmother of three boys, ages 7, 4 and 2, it’s important for me to be able to spend quality time with them while they are young,” continues Harlan.
In addition to her career endeavors, Harlan has devoted much of her time to various charitable organizations including: Operation Able, the Michigan Humane Society, the Children’s Center, Sparky Anderson’s CATCH, the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and Alternative For Girls, just to mention a few.
Harlan will anchor her final newscast on Nov. 11, but will return to host “America’s Thanksgiving Parade” later in the month.
Send Carmen a message
Do you have a message for Carmen? Post it in our comments below, visit our Facebook page, or tweet us @Local4News. We'll pass along all messages to her.