• by Ray Schultz , Yesterday

The consolidation of Teen Vogue into Vogue is more than a simple restructuring. Critics see a political element, and object to the laying off of much of its staff. 

“The NewsGuild of New York and Condé United strongly condemn plans for Teen Vogue, a move that is clearly designed to blunt the award-winning magazine’s insightful journalism at a time when it is needed the most,” the groups said in a statement. 

The statement continues: “Management plans to lay off six of our members, most of whom are BIPOC women or trans, including Teen Vogue’s Politics Editor—continuing the trend of layoffs at Condé disproportionately impacting marginalized employees."  

Condé Nast announced on Monday that Teen Vogue would be folded into Vogue, and that Chloe Malle, the head of editorial on Vogue, would run it. 

The existing editor in chief, Versha Sharma, was set to leave. And staff members have taken to social media to say they were laid off.

Condé Nast said Teen Vogue will remain a distinct editorial property under the Vogue umbrella. Vogue Business had previously moved to the Vogue.com platform. 

But the unions argued there was “no mention in the announcement of the coverage that has earned Teen Vogue massive readership and wide praise from across the journalism industry.” 

They continued: “Gone is the political-cultural criticism of the fashion and culture industries by the Black women writers laid off today. Gone are the incisive and artful depictions of young people from the Asian and Latina women photographers laid off today. Gone from the lauded politics section is the work that made possible the blockbuster cover of Vivian Wilson, one of Conde Nast’s top performing of the year, coordinated by the singular trans staffer laid off today."

The statement adds: “As of today, only one woman of color remains on the editorial staff at Teen Vogue."