Vanity Fair is currently undergoing an editorial shakeup accompanied by layoffs, marking a period of significant change for the publication.
Here’s a summary of the situation:
1. Leadership change
- Radhika Jones, the previous editor-in-chief, stepped down in April 2025 after seven years in the role.
- Mark Guiducci, formerly creative editorial director at Condé Nast sister publication Vogue, was appointed the new Global Editorial Director in June 2025.
2. Editorial restructuring
- Guiducci’s vision for Vanity Fair involves re-centering the publication around entertainment, celebrities, and culture, alongside coverage of “money, politics and style.”
- This shift will involve scaling back certain areas like news aggregation, reviews, and trade coverage, according to Variety.
- Some editorial verticals, including The Hive and Hollywood Daily, will be phased out to unify all content as “Vanity Fair stories”.
- Despite layoffs, the publication plans to hire 13 new staff members, including correspondents focused on Hollywood, Washington, and style, according to AOL.com.
3. Layoffs and staff morale
- Vanity Fair experienced a round of layoffs in 2024, and another round occurred in August 2025.
- Long-time staffers, including chief critic Richard Lawson and Hollywood correspondents David Canfield and Anthony Breznican, were impacted by the recent layoffs, according to Page Six.
- Sources indicate that morale among Vanity Fair staff is low due to the changes, the recent layoffs, and the shift in editorial direction.
4. Industry Context
- The changes at Vanity Fair reflect a broader trend within the media industry as publications adapt to declining print advertising revenue and evolving reader habits.
- Other major media outlets have also experienced layoffs and editorial restructuring in recent years, including the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated.
This period of transition signifies a new chapter for Vanity Fair as it navigates the changing media landscape and aims to reaffirm its identity under new leadership.
