Anchor Ernie Bjorkman, a fixture of Denver television news for the past 26 years, is being let go.

More than 25 KWGN-Channel 2 staffers lost their jobs in October, and will be eased out in coming months, in preparation for the station’s merger with KDVR-Channel 31.

Ernie’s Denver career began in 1982 as a field anchor for KMGH-TV. After two years, he joined News 2 as the main anchor and managing editor. He returned to KMGH four years later where he worked as an anchor until 1998, before rejoining the News2

team as the primary anchor.

In an email to The Denver Post’s Joann Ostrow, Bjorkman said: “I was told that my last day will be December 31st, so that’s when I will end my employment with Tribune and Ch. 2. If nothing else opens up, I presume it will be my last day on Denver television after 26 years.”

The New York Times did a lengthy story earlier this week that featured Bjorkman as part of national trend,  where local news broadcasters who’ve been in the business a while, are being systematically let go.