I’m not a lawyer, but I wonder if these networks can practically exempt themselves from most age and gender discrimination lawsuits by re-classifying their work force so they operate like a couple of the only industries where age, gender and even RACIAL discrimination is perfectly legal: the entertainment and advertising industries. Call them “actors/actresses” instead of “news anchors,” and the whole legal environment changes dramatically.
That's exactly what they are. Who considers some 20-something to be an authoritative source on world politics? They just read the words given to them and try to look serious and smart while doing it.