Journalism Spotlight: The Onion

The Onion is an alternative, comedic news source. Its source of comedy derives from its presentation and authenticity to typical news tradition. The formatting to print newspaper, old gothic font scrolls for the archives, and production of audio and visual clips in its news reels allow for the unique, biting sarcasm familiar with other satires such as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

News is often outrageous. Whether it is the tabloid behavior of Spears or the political downfall of Spitzer, the news comes about with a sense of shock, disgust, and absurdity. Today, we are faced with so much exposure to scandal that it almost becomes expected. This ludicrousness nature of current events allows for satires such as The Onion to be so successful. It takes the concept of today’s obscurities and turns it up a notch. We can laugh because as far as it is from the truth, it still hits home.

The Onion’s humor comes in three forms; the impossible that does not hold back, the ordinary mixing with the extraordinary, and the possible that shows behind the scenes. This is best shown by exploring a few of our readings.
In the video that introduces a lack of tolerance bill toward scull-fucking we see the impossible. To listen to a conservatively dressed, fake congressman rattle on about the merits of opposition toward men ripping out on old lady’s eye in order to have sex and you can not help but laugh at the preposterousness. Certainly, it’s not the first time I have heard such an expression, but the level of seriousness in the tone of the congressman as he presents all his argument coupled with the incredibility of the context, and I cannot help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

Then there is the article looking at the Vice President’s side job moonlighting for Denny’s, a prime example to the ordinary and extraordinary coming together. Certainly Denny’s is a place everyone is familiar with, as is Dick Cheney. While the idea that he would pick up an extra job to be able to buy his wife a nice fur coat for their anniversary is a bit peculiar, the real humor from the article was its presentation. From a journalistic view, the idea that someone could have time to interview almost every member of the cabinet along with other high-ranking advisors gets the humor going. The New York Times presentation and sourcing style adds to this dramatic effect. Then the nature in which the article was written, the mysterious unfolding of a scandal, and it’s…a job at Denny’s? The article then keeps you laughing after the exposed “scandal” because it’s such a refreshing way in which for a candidate to get in trouble.

Finally, the CEO allowing his inexperienced, slacker son to take over the multi-million dollar business is a telling of the possible that shows the behind the scenes look. Without a doubt, this type of event happens. The head honcho of a huge corporation, this one hilariously being the proclaimed top-selling toner company, chooses family, mainly his son, over qualified candidates for his succession. The idea alone is not funny. A guy getting screwed over after years of hard work by a kid who does not have the drive, work ethic, or familiarity with the company, and only wins the position due to a family-tie happens on a daily basis. Yet, the article is written in the dry perspective of the father CEO, who in a serious declaration lets it apparent that the son is getting the job due to the fact that he is his son and not in anyway qualified, makes the article comical. Using things such as the son’s experience “bumming around Europe” as a justification of world knowledge and the father dragging him through an ivy league college that he only went to because the father got him in, adds to the true audacity of corporate workings. As sad of a thought as it is for the other guy, and all the workers who now must follow under and unqualified leader, the internal justifications of a parent wanting to get their kid off the couch and into a job, gives the article its appeal. We can laugh because of its inherent honesty, since the situation is very probable.

The Onion reaps its humor by fictionalizing news. Today this is funny, because the news we are presented with is often driven by scandal. The Onion’s sharp, dry tone and professional presentation allows for it to successfully mock the absurdity of contemporary society. Whether their latest news story is something possible or not, the reader is sure to laugh hardily at news today, but also proves a social critique on the news we ingest on a daily basis.