New layoffs at Variety

Columnist-blogger Anne Thompson is among the layoffs to hit the trade today. "Today I got slashed from the ranks of Variety staffers along with some 30 people, most of whom had been there a lot longer than I have," she blogs. "I feel for all of them. I have enjoyed working with these smart movie-loving writers and editors: it has been a great ride. I will miss them and wish them well." Thompson says her blog will continue, perhaps at Variety. Per Nikki Finke, the others in editorial include Mike Jones, Alys Marshall, Phil Gallo, Andrew Barker, Byron Perry, Lisa Weinstein, Martha Hernandez, Diane Garrett, Ben Fritz and Jeff Sneider. Finke has some of the backstory.