Westmoland Ousted

Guy Westmoland, an anchor on KFSM, Channel 11, told viewers during the 10 p.m. newscast on Jan. 30 that he was leaving the station after that show.

Westmoland said his contract expired Dec. 31 and “management” told him two weeks later that they would not renew it.

“I was given no advance warning of this, and I had absolutely no choice in the decision,” Westmoland said on the air. “I’m sorry it ends this way.”

Westmoland, 43, told the Business Journal that Van Comer, general manager for KFSM, said the station could save money by not renewing Westmoland’s contract, and put that money to other use.

Westmoland said Comer had told KFSM staffers that the two men were unable to reach an agreement concerning his contract, and that’s why he felt that it was necessary to make a statement on the air.

“He made it sound like I was asking for a ridiculous increase of money,” Westmoland said. “We never even got around to talking about that.”

Westmoland said he was asked to accept a severance package that included a one-year noncompete agreement and contained a clause that required him not to speak ill of the company. But Westmoland chose not to accept it and make the on-air comment instead.

“[The severance package] condones what [Comer] is doing,” Westmoland said. “My integrity is worth more than a few thousand dollar … I really didn’t like the part about not being able to tell the truth.”

We called Comer, and he said, “I cannot discuss personnel issues.”