Bernard Shaw Deplores Sexism in TV Newsrooms

MANHATTAN, Kan. —  Cable News Network anchor Bernard Shaw says the television news industry is ripe for change when it comes to attitudes about women in the workplace.

“There are men over age 50 on television reporting news,” Shaw said during a speech at Kansas State University. “They are wrinkled. They are gray. And because they are wrinkled and gray, they have the appearance of being very experienced.”

But there aren’t many women older than 50 on network television, Shaw said.

“It is time for television and our nation in general to stop this deluding fixation with youth and (to) respect the right of women, especially in television news and other professions, to wrinkle and to (turn) gray--on the job,” Shaw said.

“Sexism is a poison we have been drinking for too long.”