Paste Magazine Cuts Film and TV Teams, Refocuses on Music

In a major restructuring, Paste Magazine has decided to shift its focus exclusively to music coverage, cutting its film and TV teams. The changes were confirmed by Paste's President and Editor-in-Chief, Josh Jackson, who stated that the "heart of Paste has always been music" and the goal is to establish the site as the "premiere music site on the internet."

As part of the restructuring, Paste's TV and movies coverage will now be handled by the company's sister site, The A.V. Club, which Paste acquired in 2024. This move has resulted in the layoffs of several key employees, including movies editor Jim Vorel, associate movies editor Jesse Hassenger, and TV and books editor Lacy Baugher Milas.

Milas, who first shared the news of the layoffs on social media, expressed her heartbreak over the decision, stating that she is "both professionally and personally heartbroken" about the changes. Many other Paste contributors also lamented the news, with some praising the team and encouraging others to hire the affected employees.

Founded in 1998 and led by Jackson since 2002, Paste has undergone several iterations over the years, including cutting its print edition in 2010, which resulted in the layoff of nearly all its full-time staff. The company has also seen a number of acquisitions in recent years, including The A.V. Club in 2024 and the relaunch of Splinter News that same month.