Anderson News suspends "normal business"

Anderson News announced Saturday that it was suspending "normal business activity" in the U.S. and laying off most of its staff. The Tennessee-based company, which had been maintaining a defiant face earlier in the week in its dispute with the major magazine publishers, notified its staff by conference call on Saturday, according to a report in Folio:. The layoffs affect Anderson employees at Anderson News, Prologix East, Anderson Services and Twin Rivers technology. A skeleton crew remains in place.

CEO Charles Anderson said negotiations were continuing with its two largest publishers, but he didn't sound hopeful. He described the situation as "a mess for us all."

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