Bangor, Maine TV news anchors Cindy Michaels and Tony Consiglio resigned live on air last night, stunning the audience and their managers alike.
The pair matter-of-factly announced at the end of their newscast on WVII that it would be their last. They offered no details - on the air, anyway:
The duo later told the Bangor Daily News that they were frustrated with management.
“I wanted to know I was doing the best job I could and was being honest and ethical as a journalist, and I thought there were times when I wasn’t able to do that,” said Consiglio.
“There was a constant disrespecting and belittling of staff and we both felt there was a lack of knowledge from ownership and upper management," Michaels added.
"I was not allowed to structure and direct professionally. I couldn’t do everything I wanted to as a news director. There was a regular undoing of decisions."
Consiglio, 28, started with WVII as a sports reporter in April 2006. The 46-year-old Michaels was the news director and also spent six years at WVII.
General manager Mike Palmer says they were on their way out, anyway. He says sometimes people leave their jobs before they're asked to leave.
“Upper management is not involved in the daily production of the news. Period,” said Palmer, noting the creation of 10 new full-time jobs and other investments in the station.