When you turn on the nightly news, what are you looking for?

Top stories?

International news? Business reports?

How about a 23-year-old debutante who looks good no matter how bad the news is?

What is more important to those who actually do watch the news?

A reliable anchor who is respectable, or someone to attract a young male demographic?

TV journalist Janet Peckinpaugh won an $8.3 million settlement Thursday against her former television station.

The 48-year-old woman charged she was let go from her job at WFSB-TV in Connecticut because of her gender and age.

Originally, the news was read by men, and no one cared how old they got.

After the sexual revolution it became obvious that America wanted to see more women as anchors.

But somewhere along the line that got translated into young, attractive females.

Appearance is important.

To deny that would be too naive.

The appearance of competence and respectability has nothing to do with crow’s feet.

If it were, Walter Cronkite wouldn’t have been allowed to retire gracefully, would he?

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that older men are usually considered distinguished, reliable and wise, while their female counterparts are just old, unattractive and, hence, disposable.

But these perceptions are unfairly perpetuated by the media which cannot get beyond seeing women as sexual objects.

What can you expect from an industry which drifts closer and closer to the entertainment industry in a vain attempt to increase ratings and revenue?

News divisions have traditionally not made profits of any kind.

They kept at it anyway because the service they provided was essential.

It also commanded respect once upon a time.

For better or worse, the media sets the agenda.

Until leaders in all industries choose to take a stand and say age doesn’t enhance a man while ruining a woman, this discrimination continues unfettered.

Women keep getting passed up for younger and supposedly improved models.

Will this ruling change the way women in television are viewed?

Probably not, but it’s a step in the right direction.