Vanity Fair Phases Out The Hive Section as Senior Editor Michael Calderone Departs After Five Years

New York – Michael Calderone, senior editor of Vanity Fair's "The Hive" section, announced his departure from the publication after five years, coinciding with a significant editorial restructuring that will see "The Hive" phased out. Calderone's exit comes as Vanity Fair's new global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, implements a vision to integrate the digital verticals into broader magazine sections, moving away from news aggregation. The changes follow a period of reported low morale and recent layoffs at the Condé Nast-owned publication.

Calderone confirmed his departure via a tweet, stating: > "After five exhilarating years at Vanity Fair, I’ll be leaving in the coming weeks. Joining the Hive in early 2020 under the great John Homans was a dream, and I’ve been honored to run the section for the last several years, working with some of the best in the business." His tenure included overseeing coverage of politics, media, technology, and business for the digital-first section.

The decision to fold "The Hive" into other parts of the magazine was communicated internally by Vanity Fair's editorial director. This strategic shift aims to streamline content and focus on core areas such as "Hollywood, the arts, money, politics, and style." The move signifies a departure from the previous emphasis on distinct vertical sections and news-focused content.

Mark Guiducci, who assumed the global editorial director role on June 30, 2025, is steering this new direction. According to an internal memo, the magazine will "no longer think of something as a ‘Hive post’ or a ‘HWD post.’ We will treat each story as a Vanity Fair story." This consolidation is part of a broader effort to redefine the publication's digital presence and content strategy.

Calderone joined Vanity Fair in January 2020 as senior editor for "The Hive," having previously served as a senior media reporter for Politico. His extensive background in journalism includes over a decade reporting on political media and the news industry for outlets like HuffPost and the New York Observer. He has also been recognized with the National Press Club’s Rowse Press Criticism Award for his reporting.