American anchor hopes her age bias lawsuit changes TV news

The lawsuit alleges Heitshusen, 54, was "thrown out to pasture” because she was no longer seen as camera-worthy. Photo: 123rf.com

As a prominent reporter and anchor at one of Iowa’s biggest local television stations, Sonya Heitshusen was known for doggedly investigating injustices and holding the powerful accountable.

A year after WHO-TV in Des Moines abruptly let her go, she is turning those skills on her former employer with a lawsuit challenging what she calls a widespread practice of removing older, female staffers from the air because of their looks.