Get ready for some heartfelt goodbyes in July to some of the best-known TV journalists in Detroit

WDIV-TV (Channel 4) Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis announced Tuesday that sports anchor Bernie Smilovitz and reporters Mara MacDonald, Rod Meloni and Paula Tutman will be leaving the station in early July —along with a number of off-air employees — as the result of a voluntary retirement incentive program.

Buyout packages are nothing new in the media as news outlets deal with shrinking audiences and financial pressures. But the departure of four popular and award-winning veterans will be a big change for Motor City viewers, particularly because the exits are all happening at the same news department.

Earlier this month, Deadline Detroit reported that buyouts for Smilovitz, MacDonald and Meloni were soon on the way and attributed the information to “a person familiar with the situation.”

In an open letter posted on WDIV’s website, Ellis responded directly to what will be a big question from viewers: “Why did we do it?”

He wrote: “We had a unique opportunity to reward a group of long-serving individuals who have been instrumental in building our station’s success over the years. And while it’s bittersweet to see these friends and colleagues depart, it reflects our commitment to recognizing and appreciating our employees, which is a key reason we consistently attract and retain exceptional people.”

Ellis also addressed comments on social media suggesting staffers had been pushed out, writing, “That’s just not true.” He included an excerpt of an email he received from Tutman, which said she was “happily accepting the offer” and expressed appreciation that “my employer thought enough of me to forgo the gold watch and give me something truly generous and useful: a great start to an early retirement.”

Said Tutman in the excerpt: “Lots of organizations in our industry are just slashing jobs and salaries in this changing climate. That’s not what happened here.”

Smilovitz, who is famous for his lighthearted style and “Weekend at Bernie’s” and “Bernie’s Bloopers” recurring segments, joined the station in 1986 and has remained a Detroit television fixture except for a brief stint working in New York City in the 1990s.

MacDonald has been with WDIV since 2004, while Meloni, who is the Channel 4 business editor, has been there since 1995. Tutman came to the station in 1992 ”at the tender age of 16″ (not true, but she feels good saying it), as she jokes in her station bio.

On Facebook, WDIV morning anchor Jason Colthorp posted the letter from Ellis and commented: “To say July 1 will be a bittersweet day for us, is an understatement. I expect there will be as many hugs in our building as Murrow, Emmys, APs and MABs these fabulous journalists have won during their illustrious careers.”

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WDIV-TV confirms upcoming departure of 4 veterans of news team