Onion to Slice SF, LA Editions: Source

New book Our Front Pages explores the evolution

(NEWSER) - The Onion's writers have a backward way of generating stories: They come up with the headlines first. The staff devotes the first two days of each week to rejecting headlines like “Quick and Painless Overthrow of Taliban Enters Eighth Year” in favor of “US Continues Quagmire-Building Effort in Afghanistan.” New book Our Front Pages explores the evolution of such heads over the paper’s 21-year history; New York Times reporter Eric Konigsberg took a peek at it, and the operation. Fun tidbits: More»

Yesterday's fake headlines become today's salutations

(NEWSER) - Real newspapers take note: The Onion has found a way to squeeze some money out of its back issues. A new line of greeting cards based on its parody articles has hit Target, giving Americans the perfect way to convey sentiments like "Search for Self Called Off After 38 Years" and "Study: Alligators Dangerous No Matter How Drunk You Are." More»

The Onion feeds the public's need for satiric news coverage

(NEWSER) - As newspapers lay off workers and struggle to survive, the Onion is adding staff and circulating in new markets, the Washington Post reports. Riding the crest of America's love for Jon Stewart-style satirical news, the 20-year-old paper pays writers well and holds down a New York City office. "It's scary," the paper's editorial manager says. "It's a little terrifying that real news is crashing while fake news is growing." More»

(NEWSER) - The Onion, bucking a 20-year trend, plans to cover tomorrow's election results in something resembling real time, the AP reports. The "satirical newspaper of record" and its website have prepared articles and videos in advance, requiring long hours unfamiliar to its writers. “It has become sort of necessary for us to really do a little more coverage than we normally would,” says editor Joe Randazzo. More»

From a Wisconsin dorm to a NYC highrise, satirical newspaper's key lies in lies

(NEWSER) - When a wisecracking newspaper was born in a Wisconsin dorm room in 1988, no one predicted it would one day be installed in sleek Manhattan offices, producing fake print and television news, and rolling in dough. But the Onion's president isn’t surprised, CBS reports. The paper “attracts this really great audience. And advertisers really wanna reach these people." More»