5 anchors will no longer work at NY1 after suit settlement

NEW YORK (AP) — Five female anchors will no longer work at a New York news channel as part of the settlement of an age and gender discrimination lawsuit alleging they were passed over in favor of younger talent, according to statements from the women, their lawyers and the channel.

The women who sued in Manhattan federal court in June 2019 include Roma Torre, a Montclair, New Jersey, resident in her early 60s who was NY1′s first on-air hire when it began its programs in 1992.

The settlement of the lawsuit was announced by the women, their lawyers and by NY1. Its terms were not disclosed.

It came a month after a judge allowed some age and gender discrimination claims to proceed but rejected some hostile work environment and retaliation claims.

In their lawsuit, the women, all over age 40, alleged that they were marginalized and cast aside to make room for younger women and men after Charter Communications, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company, took over the local news channel in 2016.

The lawsuit had sought unspecified damages and a return to the positions the women occupied before Charter took control.

According to the lawsuit, the women found their on-air time dramatically reduced, anchoring opportunities decreased, prime reporting opportunities taken away and promotional efforts mostly eliminated.

“We are pleased to announce we have reached a confidential resolution of the lawsuit filed by Roma Torre, Kristen Shaughnessy, Jeanine Ramirez, Vivian Lee and Amanda Farinacci and as a result, have mutually agreed to part ways," NY1 said in its statement.

"We want to thank them for their years of dedicated service in reporting the news for New Yorkers and we wish them well in their future endeavors,” it added.

In a statement, the women said they were pleased to...