[vforgione]

I worked at The Onion a few years ago. The content teams there were some of the most dedicated and passionate professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my career.

This is an upsetting story. Despite so much upheaval in print and publishing at large, and the unfortunate circumstance that reality has become as absurd as the headlines of The Onion a decade ago, everyone there comes in every day ready to give it all they’ve got. It honestly is a remarkable staff and sometimes I really miss it there.

[sarreph]

> the unfortunate circumstance that reality has become as absurd as the headlines of The Onion a decade ago

So true... Google has a slew of articles pronouncing the death of conventional political satire. It's not just politics though, as the Onion's fate is showing now. It seems also there are a myriad other forms of media — YouTube being a prime example — of how 'surreal' content seems to be becoming these days. When we have YouTubers click-baiting and essentially (but almost unwittingly) parodying themselves to chase the views, it begs the question of what the next turning of the tide of media style will be.

Sorry to hear that The Onion sounds like an amazing place that's going to get shuttered :(

[scottmf]

There's a great episode of This American Life from 2008 with a behind-the-scenes look at how the staff comes up with headlines: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/348/tough-room

It sounds like an amazing place to work!

[vforgione]

I was a developer there, not a writer, but this kind of mentality was so basic to the entire company. It reinforces a great deal of humility -- not just in your work but as a person.

[hackerpacker]

FWIW, I stopped reading the onion when it was bought by univision, for presumably political reasons. I mean even now the dedication and passion you describe sounds a bit like campaign headquarters to me, not a satire shop.

[hackerpacker]

yes, downvote, that will encourage honest feedback and change my view...