Two news anchors at a Fox affiliate station in Bangor, Maine have sensationally quit live on-air, citing a longstanding battle with senior management over journalistic practices.
Co-anchors Cindy Michaels, 46, and Tony Consiglio, 28, shocked both staff and viewers by announcing their resignations at the end of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. broadcast.
Michaels, who was also the station’s news director, said she had grown frustrated with senior management's influence and desire for 'somewhat unbalanced news,' particularly in relation to politics.
There was a constant disrespecting and belittling of staff and we both felt there was a lack of knowledge
from ownership and upper management in running a newsroom to the extent that I was not allowed to structure and direct them professionally,’ Michaels told BangorDailyNews.com.
Michaels, who joined the station in 2006, said a balanced journalistic approach was often frowned upon, although she wasn't specific about what political leaning senior management had expected the reporters to adopt.
‘I couldn’t do everything I wanted to as a news director. There was a regular undoing of decisions,’ she said.
Both Michaels and Consiglio said the idea to resign was something they had talked about for some time and so felt was right to make as a joint decision.
‘I just wanted to know that 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, who joined the station in 2006 as a sports reporter before becoming a news anchor the next year.
Neither presenter told anyone of their decision prior to Tuesday’s broadcast for fear they wouldn’t be given the opportunity to say goodbye to viewers.
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