Leo Wolinsky, an editor and reporter at the Los Angeles Times for 31 years, has been named editor of Daily Variety, "encompassing both the L.A. and Gotham editions," the trade says. He begins in January, will be responsible "for all editorial content for the print edition" and will report to Variety Group editor Tim Gray. Wolinsky had been as high as number two on the news side at the Times until moving to Calendar and serving for a short time as the editor over features and entertainment. He was purged last year. While still in a top newsroom position, he held talks with Eli Broad, David Geffen and Ron Burkle about saving the Times from the ownership of the Tribune and Sam Zell.

* Updates: Wolinsky tells The Wrap he applied for the job, has a lot to learn and "Frankly, I didn’t think I was going to stay in journalism. I didn’t think there was a job out there for me. This came as a tremendous surprise." Plus Variety's new pay wall goes up on some content next week, Anne Thompson says.

Previously at LA Observed:
Wolinsky a survivor
Beards ready to quit together
Baquet goes with two ME's
Inside the LAT front page