BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Two news co-anchors on a Bangor television station quit on the air at the end of their newscasts, but the station’s general manager says they were on their way out, anyway.

Cindy Michaels and Tony Consiglio announced their resignations at the end of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. newscast, citing a longstanding battle with management over journalistic practices at WVII and sister station WFVX.

Watch: News Anchors Quit On The Air

Consiglio, who’s 28, started with WVII as a sports reporter in April 2006. Michaels, who’s 46, is the station’s news director and has spent six years in at WVII. Facebook messages left for them were not immediately returned.

WVII/WFVX vice president and general manager Mike Palmer tells The Associated Press he wasn’t surprised. Palmer said sometimes people leave their jobs before they’re asked to leave.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.