Editing The Onion (section)

==History==
{{redirect|History of The Onion|the food's history|History of onions}}
===Publication's name===
"People always ask questions about where the name ''The Onion'' came from," said former President Sean Mills in a 2007 interview with ''[[Wikinews]]''; "and, when I recently asked Tim Keck, who was one of the founders, he told me... Literally that his uncle said he should call it ''The Onion'' when he saw him and Chris Johnson eating an onion sandwich. They had literally just cut up the onion and put it on bread."<ref name="youtube_20131107">{{cite web
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfRlUI3ZCsY?si=erFOznXZ1aD5kScV&t=1075
|title=Onion Turns 25: Founder Who "Hasn't Done Shit There in 24 Years" Takes Credit - Tim Keck
|website=[[YouTube]]
|date=November 7, 2013
}}</ref> Former editorial manager Chet Clem believed this to be plausible, recollecting also in a 2007 interview that their food budget was so low when they started the paper that they were down to white bread and onions. In the same ''[[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire|Spectator News]]'' interview, graphic editor Mike Loew forwarded the theory an "onion" was 1930s newspaper slang for a "juicy, multi-layered story".

The onion sandwich theory had been referenced in many news sources when then editor-in-chief Cole Bolton, during a 2021 event at the [[University of Chicago]], called that story "the dumbest explanation" and asserted that it is likely wrong. According to Bolton, the most plausible explanation is that ''The Onion'' was mocking a campus newsletter called ''The Union''.<ref name="thejeffdwoskincomedyshow92_202201">{{cite podcast
|url=https://jeffisfunny.com/2022/01/92-scott-dikkers-pulls-back-the-onion/
|title=#92 Scott Dikkers Peels Back The Onion
|website=jeffisfunny.com
|publisher=The Jeff Dwoskin Comedy Show
|host=Jeff Dwoskin
|date=January 1, 2022
|access-date=December 11, 2022
|archive-date=January 4, 2022
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104033017/https://jeffisfunny.com/2022/01/92-scott-dikkers-pulls-back-the-onion/
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="spectatornews_20070208">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spectatornews.com/showcase/2007/02/08/layers-of-the-onion/
|title=Layers of the Onion
|date=February 8, 2007
|magazine=The Spectator
|access-date=June 20, 2015
|archive-date=June 20, 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620234644/http://www.spectatornews.com/showcase/2007/02/08/layers-of-the-onion/
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="wikinews_20071124">[[n:The Onion: An interview with 'America's Finest News Source'|An interview with ''The Onion'']], David Shankbone, ''[[Wikinews]]'', November 24, 2007.</ref><ref name="universityofchicago_instituteofpolitics_20150420">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PaI5dC3IM8&t=48m33s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/0PaI5dC3IM8| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|title=IOP-Mocking the Man: How Satire Helps Deepen Our Understanding of the World Featuring Cole Bolton |date=April 20, 2015 |access-date=June 20, 2015 |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[University of Chicago Institute of Politics]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Madison (1988–2001) ===
''The Onion'' was founded as a weekly print newspaper for satirical news in 1988 in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], by [[University of Wisconsin–Madison|University of Wisconsin]] students Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson.<ref name="washingtonpost_20081116">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110701942_pf.html | title=Onion Nation: A Look Inside the Offices of ''The Onion'' | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=November 16, 2008 | access-date=November 26, 2013 | first=Wells | last=Tower | archive-date=November 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111044218/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110701942_pf.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="independent_20141116">{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Nick|title='The Onion' is for sale – insert satirical headline here|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/the-onion-is-for-sale-insert-satirical-headline-here-9864201.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/the-onion-is-for-sale-insert-satirical-headline-here-9864201.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=July 9, 2017|work=The Independent|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> In 1989, Keck and Johnson sold the paper to [[Scott Dikkers]], who had been contributing cartoons; Peter Haise, a lead advertising rep; and Jonathan Hart Eddy, the IT person, for $16,000<ref name="forbes_20050131"/><ref name="washingtonpost_20081116"/><ref name="independent_20141116"/> ($19,000 according to some sources).<ref name="cnn_20030829">{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/08/28/bus2.feat.onion.site/index.html | title=The Onion: Funny site is no joke | department=Business 2.0 | publisher=CNN | date=August 29, 2003 | access-date=November 21, 2008 | first=Geoff | last=Keighley | archive-date=March 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061039/http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/08/28/bus2.feat.onion.site/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Dionne|first1=Alexandria|title='The Onion' moves to the Internet|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet/|access-date=July 9, 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 8, 1999|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705234920/https://ew.com/article/1999/01/08/onion-moves-internet/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the sale, Keck and Johnson separately became publishers of similar [[alternative weekly|alternative weeklies]]: Keck of ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' in Seattle, Washington, and Johnson of the ''[[Weekly Alibi]]'' in Albuquerque, New Mexico.<ref name="yaledailynews_20011207">{{cite news | url=http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/12/07/onion-co-founder-extols-the-virtues-of-humor/ | title=Onion co-founder extols the virtues of humor | date=December 7, 2001 | newspaper=Yale Daily News | first=Taryn | last=Williams | access-date=June 24, 2015 | archive-date=March 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061057/https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/12/07/onion-co-founder-extols-the-virtues-of-humor/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="baltimoresun_19990606">{{cite news | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/06/06/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-parody-from-underground-lampon-to-best-selling-book-the-onion-has-found-wide-appeal-catching-up-with-the-onion/ | title=All the news that's fit to parody | newspaper=The Baltimore Sun | date=June 6, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Rob | last=Hiaasen | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626140601/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-06-06/entertainment/9906090387_1_onion-female-orgasm-dikkers | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="latimes_20000123">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-21-ca-39363-story.html | title=Not Necessarily the News | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=January 23, 2000 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | first=Paul | last=Brownfield | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111133/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/may/21/entertainment/ca-39363 | url-status=live }}</ref> Haise left ''The Onion'' after 15 years and eventually opened a custom framing shop in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stephen|first1=Jessica|title=Wauwatosa Business Spotlight: Bridgetown Framing Gallery|url=http://archive.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-business-spotlight-bridgetown-framing-gallery-b99409430z1-285996691.html/|access-date=July 9, 2017|work=Wauwatosa Now|publisher=USA Today Network|date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200443/http://archive.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-business-spotlight-bridgetown-framing-gallery-b99409430z1-285996691.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dikkers, who joined the staff as a cartoonist, said he was de facto editor by the third issue and became ''The Onion''{{'}}s longest-serving [[editor-in-chief]] (1988–1999, 2005–2008).<ref name="time_1999101421">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/43.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530000012/http://www.time.com/time/digital/cyberelite/43.html | title=Cyber Elite – 43 – Scott Dikkers | magazine=Time | date=May 30, 2009 | access-date=June 24, 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 30, 2009}}</ref>

In ''The Onion'''s earlier years, it was successful in a number of university locations (e.g., University of Wisconsin–Madison and [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]]). The publication primarily consisted of a mix of Dikkers's cartoons, [[Spy (magazine)|''Spy'']] magazine-like satire, and short fiction. The bottom three inches were reserved as ad space for coupons that were typically purchased by local, student-centered or inexpensive establishments, such as eateries and [[Video rental shop|video rental store]]s.<ref name="latimes_20000123" /><ref name="cmj_199701">{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 | first=Douglas | last=Wolk | title=Multi-Media: The Onion | magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly | date=January 1997 | page=52 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | archive-date=January 18, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114722/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mi0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The June 16, 1993, issue of ''[[The Daily Iowan]]'' ran a profile of Dikkers, in which it stated that "Dikkers still lives in Madison, spending about five hours a week on ''[[Jim's Journal]]'' and the rest of the time as co-owner of a satirical newspaper called ''The Onion''".<ref name="thedailyiowan_19930616">{{cite news | url=http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1993/di1993-06-16.pdf | title=Jim's Journal. It's a Comic Strip. | newspaper=The Daily Iowan | date=June 16, 1993 | access-date=June 27, 2015 | archive-date=June 29, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629162832/http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1993/di1993-06-16.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 1994 interview with ''U. Magazine'', Dikkers discussed Onion, Inc.'s plans to create a new sketch comedy show called ''The Comedy Castaways'', which they were in the process of pitching to [[NBC]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], and [[HBO]]. With a [[television pilot|pilot]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GzBw9SeyE|title=Long Lost Onion Sketch TV Pilot "THE COMEDY CASTAWAYS" - First Episode|date=October 7, 2022|via=YouTube}}</ref> and the first two episodes in post-production, Dikkers said, "I think what sets us apart is we've intentionally formed a tightly knit group of funny performers. A lot of these other shows are created by 50-year-olds, written by 40-year-olds and performed by 35-year-olds".<ref name="uthenationalcollegemagazine_199411-12">{{cite magazine|url=http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/bitstream/handle/mtsu/2761/37644.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=Waka! Waka! Waka! The Business of Comedy is No Laughing Matter|magazine=U. The National College Magazine|page=12|date=December 1, 1994|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Glenn|last=McDonald|archive-date=July 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713153021/http://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/bitstream/handle/mtsu/2761/37644.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1995, Dave and Jeff Haupt sold their shares of Cisco Systems and they cut a deal with then-publisher Peter Haise for rights to ''The Onion'' name for 10 years in exchange for a one-time $25,000 licensing fee to open a franchise in Denver, Colorado. The publication also licensed ''The Onion'''s content for between $200 and $500 a week. According to the Haupts, the staff in the paper's Chicago office were known to smoke marijuana while watching [[Chicago Cubs|Cubs]] games on television. But the Haupts and their partner, Dave Rogers, assembled a more business-focused staff. While other editions of The Onion ran pages of stories there weren't enough ads to support, the Haupts cut content to avoid losses. It was a deal many at ''The Onion'' eventually regretted. There were blowups when the Haupts refused to run especially biting headlines or when they made changes to the paper's layout. "We might have been selling humor, but the business behind it was always very serious to us. The rest of ''The Onion'' was a complete disaster."<ref name="thedenverpost_20051104">{{cite news | title=Successful satire | newspaper=The Denver Post | date=October 4, 2005 | access-date=December 31, 2023 | archive-date=December 31, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231021408/https://www.denverpost.com/2005/10/04/successful-satire/ | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/10/04/successful-satire/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the spring of 1996, [[Ben Karlin]] and Dikkers collaborated with [[Robert Smigel]] and [[Dana Carvey]] to create four short ''Onion'' news segments for ''[[The Dana Carvey Show]]''. Smigel said that after being introduced to ''The Onion'' by [[Bob Odenkirk]] a year earlier, "it jumped out at me as something completely original and great, and I really wanted to use it on the show". Although four fake news segments anchored by [[Stephen Colbert]] were recorded, only one of the segments actually aired.<ref name="avclub_20090615">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel-29184|title=Dana Carvey and Robert Smigel|website=The A.V. Club|date=June 15, 2009|access-date=July 3, 2015|first=Steve|last=Heisler|archive-date=July 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702134837/http://www.avclub.com/article/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel-29184|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="onionsfinestnewsreporting_volume1">{{cite book|author=The Onion|date=April 4, 2000|title=The Onion's Finest News Reporting, Volume 1|location=New York|publisher=Three Rivers Press|isbn=978-0609804636}}</ref>

In 1996, when it was still only a print newspaper, an ''Onion'' article titled "Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia" was widely disseminated online without attribution,<ref name="onion_clintondeploysvowelstobosnia">{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/archives/vowels2816.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000611034730/http://www.theonion.com/archives/vowels2816.html|title=Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia|date=December 1995|archive-date=June 11, 2000|website=The Onion|access-date=June 24, 2015 }}</ref> spurring the creation of ''The Onion''{{'}}s official website (theonion.com) so they could properly claim credit for content that was being passed around online forums such as [[Usenet]] and various mailing lists.<ref name="reecehart_clintondeploysvowelstobosnia">{{cite web|url=http://harts.net/reece/humor/US-Vowel-Aid|title=Clinton Deploys Vowels to Bosnia|date=May 9, 1996|website=Reece Hart's Humor Page|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215209/http://harts.net/reece/humor/US-Vowel-Aid|url-status=live}}</ref> The publication received expanded global recognition as a result of the website as well.<ref name="wired_199903">{{cite magazine
|url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/onion.html
|title=Award-Winning Local Journalists Reflect Own Self-Hatred Back on Nightmarish World
|magazine=Wired
|date=March 1999
|access-date=March 23, 2011
|first=Liesl
|last=Schillinger
|archive-date=April 18, 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418031503/http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/onion.html
|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="citypages_19970317">{{cite news|url=http://www.citypages.com/news/peeling-the-onion-6715697|title=Peeling the Onion|work=City Pages|date=March 19, 1997|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Michael|last=Tortorello|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625060042/http://www.citypages.com/news/peeling-the-onion-6715697|archive-date=June 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="wired_19971113"/> In a 2002 interview, then-editor in chief [[Robert D. Siegel|Rob Siegel]] said,<ref name="dailynorthwestern_20020513"/> "If you look at the breakdown of people who read ''The Onion'' online, it's like Microsoft, Dell Computers, the Department of Justice and then, like, University of Wisconsin. So it's a combination of students and pretty impressive people. I get the feeling that the print version is read by people hanging out in bars".<ref name="slate_20130905"/><ref name="citypages_19970317"/><ref name="wired_19971113">{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1997/11/8518|title=A Funny Thing Didn't Happen on the Way to the Web|magazine=Wired|date=November 13, 1997|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Mike|last=Tanner|archive-date=June 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625064053/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1997/11/8518|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the fall of 1996, Ben Karlin, who had been a writer/editor for the publication since graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1993, moved to [[Los Angeles]] and joined other former ''Onion'' staff members to create a pilot for a news parody titled ''Deadline: Now'' for the Fox Network. While the 15-minute pilot, which was completed in 1997, was never picked up as a series for production, its creation led to steady writing work for Karlin and other former ''Onion'' staffers, such as writing some episodes of ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'' on the [[Cartoon Network]]. In the wake of Karlin's departure, Siegel<ref name="onion_contact_20021019"/> took over as editor of the publication.<ref name="onion_contact_20021019">{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/info/contact_us.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021019003900/http://www.theonion.com/info/contact_us.html|title=Contact Us|website=The Onion|date=October 19, 2001|archive-date=October 19, 2002|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref><ref name="wisconsinstatejournal_20080308">{{cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/news/q-a-ben-karlin-ex-onion-editor-reflects-on-daily/article_abbd5680-8a6c-5690-a6a5-10611923a48b.html|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|title=Q&A Ben Karlin: Ex-Onion Editor Reflects On 'Daily Show', His Book|date=March 8, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Tom|last=Alesia|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161037/https://host.madison.com/news/q-a-ben-karlin-ex-onion-editor-reflects-on-daily/article_abbd5680-8a6c-5690-a6a5-10611923a48b.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="broadcastingcable_20050930">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/onion-guy-makes-good/108152|website=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Onion Guy Makes Good|date=September 30, 2005|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Michael|last=Malone|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628042753/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/onion-guy-makes-good/108152|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20060303">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/nyregion/03lives.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=From the Onion to Comedy Central to the Oscars|date=March 3, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Robin|last=Finn|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628043240/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/nyregion/03lives.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="broadcastingcable_20060324">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/wisconsin-wise-guys-plot-tv-takeover/69216|website=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Wisconsin Wise Guys Plot TV Takeover|date=March 24, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Michael|last=Malone|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165054/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/wisconsin-wise-guys-plot-tv-takeover/69216|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="newsweek_20060212">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/turning-fake-news-real-careers-113625|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207024242/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11178541/site/newsweek|magazine=Newsweek|title=Turning Fake News Into Real Careers|date=February 12, 2006|archive-date=February 7, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Devin|last=Gordon}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20050928">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/movies/9-short-films-take-aim-at-the-yucks.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=9 Short Films Take Aim at the Yucks|date=September 28, 2005|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Dana|last=Stevens|archive-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529194408/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/28/movies/9-short-films-take-aim-at-the-yucks.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sometime after ''The Onion'' appeared online in 1996, the publication was threatened with a [[lawsuit]] from [[Janet Jackson]] because of the article "Dying Boy Gets Wish: To Pork Janet Jackson". "We were very nearly sued out of existence by Janet Jackson", said Siegel, adding that in the past he was forbidden to talk about the legal matter and the celebrity involved.<ref name="thecapitaltimes_20050412">{{cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/news/local/janet-jackson-almost-killed-the-onion-editor-reveals/article_0d683a9a-50c1-11e3-b9e4-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Janet Jackson almost killed 'The Onion', editor reveals|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=April 12, 2005|access-date=June 29, 2015|first=Samara|last=Kalk Derby|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612215116/http://host.madison.com/news/local/janet-jackson-almost-killed-the-onion-editor-reveals/article_0d683a9a-50c1-11e3-b9e4-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="reasonmagazine_19981106">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.alternet.org/story/67039/is_the_onion_america%27s_most_intelligent_newspaper|title=Is The Onion America's Most Intelligent Newspaper?|magazine=Reason Magazine|date=November 6, 1998|access-date=June 29, 2015|first=Greg|last=Beato|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920152450/http://www.alternet.org/story/67039/is_the_onion_america%27s_most_intelligent_newspaper|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 27, 1998, [[MTV]] premiered ''Virtual Bill'', a collaboration between writers of ''The Onion'' and 3-D character studio Protozoa. The titular "Virtual Bill" character was a quasi-realistic [[Computer animation|CGI]] version of [[Bill Clinton]] created by studio Protozoa who introduced [[music videos]] and told jokes written by the staff of ''The Onion''. The voice of ''Virtual Bill'' was provided by then-editor Dikkers. After the initial premiere, ''Virtual Bill'' returned to MTV on December 17, 1998, with another TV special and an interactive web special produced by Pulse that ported the 3D data into a web compatible format using Pulse's proprietary plug-in.<ref name="wired_19980122">{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/01/9803|title=More Headroom: MTV Debuts a Digital Bill|magazine=Wired|date=January 22, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Janelle|last=Brown|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030434/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/01/9803|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sfgate_19980126">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Move-Over-Beavis-Here-s-Virtual-Bill-3015291.php|title=Move Over Beavis, Here's Virtual Bill|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 26, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Laura|last=Evenson|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030500/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Move-Over-Beavis-Here-s-Virtual-Bill-3015291.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="captialtimes_19980127">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69472316.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162738/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69472316.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=Onion to Air 'Bill' Spoof Tonight|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=January 27, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Tom|last=Alesia}}</ref><ref name="hurriyetdailynews_19980125">{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mtv-to-lampoon-clinton-with-quotvirtual-billquot-1998-01-25|title=MTV to lampoon Clinton with 'Virtual Bill'|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News|date=January 25, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|agency=Reuters|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030622/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=mtv-to-lampoon-clinton-with-quotvirtual-billquot-1998-01-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="salon_19981217">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.salon.com/1998/12/15/log_25|title=Clinton satire in 3-D|magazine=Salon|date=December 17, 1998|access-date=June 26, 2015|first=Janelle|last=Brown|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030758/http://www.salon.com/1998/12/15/log_25/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1999, when [[Jon Stewart]] became the host of ''[[The Daily Show]]'', he tapped former ''Onion'' writer/editor Karlin to be [[head writer]] of the newly restructured show. "He had heard about this group of Onion people in L.A. and, in a weird way, I was the ''de facto'' ringleader of our group in L.A. I came to New York. Jon and I connected. It was kind of like a slightly awkward, but successful, first date. When I got back to Los Angeles, they offered me the head writer job".<ref name="wisconsinstatejournal_20080308"/><ref name="broadcastingcable_20050930"/><ref name="nytimes_20060303"/><ref name="broadcastingcable_20060324"/><ref name="newsweek_20060212"/>

From March 3–7, 1999, writers and editors of ''The Onion'' attended the [[The Comedy Festival|U.S. Comedy Arts Festival]] in [[Aspen, Colorado]], in part to promote the forthcoming ''[[Our Dumb Century]]'' anthology, and were met with effusive praise for their work from notable comedians such as [[Conan O'Brien]], [[Dave Foley]] and [[Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas]], as well as cartoonist [[Peter Bagge]] and musician [[Andy Prieboy]].<ref name="wired_199903" /><ref name="timharrod_19991029">{{cite web | url=http://www.timharrod.com/aspen.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305093739/http://www.timharrod.com/aspen.html | title=Tim's Aspen Diary | first=Tim | last=Harrod | date=October 29, 1999 | archive-date=March 5, 2008| access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref>

On March 18, 1999, ''The Onion''{{'}}s website won its first [[Webby Award]] in the category of "Humor".<ref name="wired_19990319">{{cite magazine | url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1999/03/18591 | title=Digital Darlings Bask at Webbys | magazine=Wired | date=March 19, 1999 | access-date=June 26, 2015 | first=Joyce | last=Slaton | archive-date=June 27, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627031026/http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1999/03/18591 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="webbyawards_1999">{{cite news | url=http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/1999/web/general-website/humor/the-onion/ | title=The Onion – 1999 People's Voice / Webby Award Winner | website=The Webby Awards | date=March 18, 1999 | access-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-date=June 27, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627031137/http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/1999/web/general-website/humor/the-onion/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 23, 1999, ''The Onion''{{'}}s first fully original book, ''[[Our Dumb Century: The Onion Presents 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source|Our Dumb Century]]'' was released. The book featured mocked-up newspaper front pages from the entire 20th century, presented under the premise that the publication had been continuously in print since before 1900.<ref name="entertainmentweekly_19990430"/><ref name="cnn_19990401"/><ref name="harvardcrimson_19990507"/> In the wake of the book's success, networks such as [[HBO]] and [[NBC]] were in talks to bring ''The Onion'' to TV with a special based on ''Our Dumb Century''.<ref name="latimes_20000123"/>

Despite nearly two years of work spent on conceiving and producing ''Our Dumb Century'', the writers received only bonuses of a few thousand dollars{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}, despite the fact that the two-book publishing deal netted ''The Onion'' $450,000.<ref name="latimes_20000123" /><ref name="entertainmentweekly_19990430">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/article/1999/04/30/our-dumb-century-onion-presents-100-years-headlines-americas-finest-news-source | title=Our Dumb Century | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=April 30, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Clarissa | last=Cruz | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626171020/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/04/30/our-dumb-century-onion-presents-100-years-headlines-americas-finest-news-source | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cnn_19990401">{{cite web | url=http://edition.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9904/Dumb.Century/index.html | title=First Chapters: Dumb and Dumber: Our Dumb Century by the editors of ''The Onion'' | website=CNN | date=April 1, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=T. Herman | last=Zweibel | archive-date=March 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095706/http://edition.cnn.com/books/beginnings/9904/Dumb.Century/index.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="harvardcrimson_19990507">{{cite news | url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/5/7/our-surprisingly-spammy-century-pharvey-mansfield/ | title=Our Surprisingly Spammy Century | newspaper=The Harvard Crimson | date=May 7, 1999 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Erik | last=Beach | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626162452/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/5/7/our-surprisingly-spammy-century-pharvey-mansfield/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2000, [[DreamWorks Studios]] optioned two stories from the satirical newspaper, "Canadian Girlfriend Unsubstantiated"—which was to be written by former ''Onion'' editor and writer Rich Dahm—and "Tenth Circle Added to Rapidly Growing Hell" with an eye toward producing the latter as a family comedy. "The story is so dark and hate filled—I was shocked", said head writer Todd Hanson. "It's like an Onion joke. I mean, what are they going to do? Add a sickly-but-adorable moppet?" added editor Robert Siegel. DreamWorks planned for the finished "Tenth Circle Added to Rapidly Growing Hell" to involve animation as well as musical singalongs.<ref name="entertainmentweekly_20001013">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/13/funny-farm-onion | title=Funny Farm: 'The Onion' | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=October 13, 2000 | access-date=June 24, 2015 | first=Daniel | last=Fierman | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626163710/http://www.ew.com/article/2000/10/13/funny-farm-onion | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theguardian_20001123">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/23/tvandradio.television | title=Read 'em and weep | newspaper=The Guardian | date=November 22, 2000 | access-date=June 25, 2015 | first=Danny | last=Leigh | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133539/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/23/tvandradio.television | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="irishtimes_20011001">{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/know-your-onions-1.329847 | newspaper=The Irish Times | title=Know your Onions | date=October 1, 2001 | access-date=June 27, 2015 | first=Mike | last=Goodridge | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034117/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/know-your-onions-1.329847 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20081126">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/movies/30itzk.html | newspaper=The New York Times | title=From Fake Newspaper to Real Serious | date=November 26, 2008 | access-date=June 27, 2015 | first=Dave | last=Itzkoff | archive-date=June 28, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034613/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/movies/30itzk.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2000, writers and editors of ''The Onion'' participated in [[Comedy Central]] panel discussion moderated by [[Jeff Greenfield]] titled "The State of ''The Onion''" during the "Toyota Comedy Festival 2000".<ref name="comcentral_200006">{{cite web | url=http://www.comcentral.com/festivals/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815075850/http://www.comcentral.com/festivals/ | title=ComedyCentral.com Presents: The State of ''The Onion'' Webcast Archive | website=Comedy Central | date=June 2000 | archive-date=August 15, 2000| access-date=June 26, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="toyotacomedyfestival_200006">{{cite web | url=http://toyotacomedyfestival.net/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815232607/http://toyotacomedyfestival.net/ | title=8th Annual – June 1-10, 2000 | website=Toyota Comedy Festival | date=June 2000 | archive-date=August 15, 2000| access-date=June 26, 2015 }}</ref>

In July 2000, ''The Onion''{{'}}s editor Robert Siegel was named one of [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]]'s most eligible bachelors. "If a person is beautiful on the inside", Siegel said, "looks don't really matter".<ref name="dailynorthwestern_20020513">{{cite news | url=http://dailynorthwestern.com/2002/05/13/archive-manual/onion-q-a/ | work=The Daily Northwestern | title=Onion Q & A: Robert Siegel | date=May 13, 2002 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | first=Jodi | last=Genshaft | archive-date=July 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064648/http://dailynorthwestern.com/2002/05/13/archive-manual/onion-q-a/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="people_20000710">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131741,00.html | magazine=People Magazine | title=America's Most Wanted: Robert Siegel | date=July 10, 2000 | access-date=June 30, 2015 | archive-date=July 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064718/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131741,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== New York City (2001–2012) ===

Beginning in the fall of 2000 to early 2001, the company relocated its editorial offices from Madison, Wisconsin, to a renovated warehouse in the [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] neighborhood of Manhattan (New York City) to raise ''The Onion''{{'}}s profile, expand the publication from being simply a humor newspaper into a full production company, as well as develop editorial content in other media—including books, television and movies—and engage more directly with Internet companies as far as advertising revenue goes.<ref name="americanjournalismreview_200209">{{cite magazine |url=http://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=2618 |title=Peeling the Onion |magazine=American Journalism Review |date=September 2002 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |first=Kathryn S. |last=Wenner }}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20010122">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/business/media-the-onion-makes-its-new-home-in-an-old-target.html |title=The Onion Makes Its New Home in an Old Target |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2001 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |first=Corey |last=Kilgannon |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014621/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/business/media-the-onion-makes-its-new-home-in-an-old-target.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nyobserver_20010219">{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2001/02/tale-of-allergists-entenmanns-lavin-flips-for-allbutter-loaf/ |title=Onion Weeps For Shoshanna |work=The New York Observer |date=February 19, 2001 |access-date=June 25, 2015 |first=Amy |last=Berkowitz |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111643/http://observer.com/2001/02/tale-of-allergists-entenmanns-lavin-flips-for-allbutter-loaf/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mikesacks_pokingadeadfrog">{{cite book |first=Mike |last=Sacks |year=2014 |title=Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today's Top Comedy Writers|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0143123781}}</ref><ref name="mikesacks_andheresthekicker">{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Sacks|year=2009|title=And Here's the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on their Craft|publisher=Writers Digest |isbn=978-1582975054}}</ref><ref name="telegraph_20010906">{{cite news |last=Leith |first=Sam |date=September 6, 2001 |title=Shock discovery: American satire is funny |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1339638/Shock-discovery-American-satire-is-funny.html |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1339638/Shock-discovery-American-satire-is-funny.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=June 25, 2015 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In February 2001, [[Miramax]] Films head [[Harvey Weinstein]] announced they had reached a first-look agreement to develop scripts and features with ''The Onion''. "As lifelong New Yorkers, we're proud to welcome ''The Onion'' to our city with this first-look deal", said Harvey Weinstein. "With their witty, sophisticated humor, they will undoubtedly soon be the toast of the town", Weinstein added.<ref name="prnewswire_20010215">{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramax-has-tears-of-joy-cutting-first-look-deal-with-the-onion-71369982.html|website=PR Newswire|title=Miramax Has Tears of Joy, Cutting First-Look Deal With The Onion|date=February 15, 2001|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Mike|last=Goodridge|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628034805/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miramax-has-tears-of-joy-cutting-first-look-deal-with-the-onion-71369982.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="variety_20010215">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/miramax-onion-ink-first-look-deal-1117793826|newspaper=Variety|title=Miramax, Onion ink first-look deal|date=February 15, 2001|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Jonathan|last=Bing|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114737/https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/miramax-onion-ink-first-look-deal-1117793826/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="screendaily_20010215">{{cite news|url=http://www.screendaily.com/miramax-signs-development-deal-with-the-onion/405040.article|newspaper=Screen Daily|title=Miramax signs development deal with The Onion|date=February 15, 2001|access-date=June 27, 2015|author=Miramax Films|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701034910/http://www.screendaily.com/miramax-signs-development-deal-with-the-onion/405040.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 27, 2001, ''The Onion'' debuted its New York City print edition with an issue focused on the [[September 11 attacks]]. The popularity, and critical praise, of the issue resulted in ''The Onion''{{'}}s website's online traffic nearly doubling in the weeks following the attacks.<ref name="newsweek_20011021">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/fast-chat-onion-154021|title=Fast Chat: The Onion|magazine=Newsweek|date=October 21, 2001|access-date=June 25, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923181814/http://www.newsweek.com/fast-chat-onion-154021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fuckedcompany_2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.fuckedcompany.com/extras/onion_email.cfm|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011111123530/http://www.fuckedcompany.com/extras/onion_email.cfm|title=Memo to TheOnion.com employees|website=FuckedCompany.com|date=2001|archive-date=November 11, 2001|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Peter|last=Haise}}</ref>

In November 2002, a humorous op-ed piece in ''The Onion'' that was satirically bylined by filmmaker [[Michael Bay]] titled "Those Chechen Rebels Stole My Idea"<ref name="theonion_onion3842_those_chechen_rebels_20021113"/> was removed from the site without explanation. Entertainment industry trade magazine [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] theorized, "It's not clear if Bay—a frequent object of ''The Onion''{{'}}s satire—requested the move."<ref name="theonion_onion3842_those_chechen_rebels_20021113">{{cite web |url=http://www.theonion.com/onion3842/those_chechen_rebels.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021114151617/http://www.theonion.com/onion3842/those_chechen_rebels.html|title=Those Chechen Rebels Stole My Idea|website=The Onion|date=November 13, 2002|archive-date=November 14, 2002|access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name="variety_20021119">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/columns/new-wave-of-humor-is-no-laughing-matter-1117876281|title=New wave of humor is no laughing matter|newspaper=Variety|date=November 19, 2002|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Jonathan|last=Bing|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628234549/http://variety.com/2002/film/columns/new-wave-of-humor-is-no-laughing-matter-1117876281/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="politechbot_20021121">{{cite web|url=http://www.politechbot.com/p-04180.html|title=More on The Onion deletes parody article about Chechen rebels|website=Declan McCullagh's Politech|date=November 21, 2002|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Declan|last=McCullagh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075248/http://www.politechbot.com/p-04180.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="armchairgeneral_20021114">{{cite web|url=http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showpost.php?s=fe5f61092a24d687fc005047d33baf6a&p=6551&postcount=24|title=The joke thread continued...|website=Armchair General and HistoryNet|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Don|last=Maddox|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630071549/http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showpost.php?s=fe5f61092a24d687fc005047d33baf6a&p=6551&postcount=24|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, ''The Onion'' was purchased by David Schafer, who had previously managed the $2.5 billion investment fund, from previous long-time owners Peter Haise and Scott Dikkers. The sale was a process that had been in the works since July 2001 and according to a memo from then-owner Haise, "[Schafer] understands our quirky company and knows that we need some time to get to a higher level of operations and sales."<ref name="fuckedcompany_2001"/> In a 2003 CNN profile of ''The Onion'', Schafer stated with regards to the company and the purchase, "''The Onion''{{'}}s strong point was never accounting, financial management, or business. Buying it was a bit of a shot in the dark, but we felt we could get a handle on it." Also in 2003, editor Robert Siegel quit his day-to-day role at ''The Onion''<ref name="thecapitaltimes_20050412"/> to focus on writing screenplays full-time.<ref name="nytimes_20040620"/><ref name="nytimes_20100618"/> "After the 14,000th headline I felt the itch to use a different part of my brain", he said. "You can go mad thinking in headline form." In the wake of his departure, long-time staff writer [[Carol Kolb]]<ref name="onion_contact_20040117"/> took over as editor of the publication.<ref name="cnn_20030829" /><ref name="nytimes_20081126"/><ref name="nytimes_20040620">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/style/weddings-celebrations-vows-jen-cohn-and-robert-siegel.html|work=The New York Times|title=Weddings/Celebrations: Vows – Jen Cohn and Robert Siegel|date=June 20, 2004|access-date=June 30, 2015|first=Elaine|last=Louie|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701064855/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/20/style/weddings-celebrations-vows-jen-cohn-and-robert-siegel.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20100618">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/fashion/weddings/20UNIONS.html|work=The New York Times|title=No Better Script for Marriage|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=June 30, 2015|first=Elaine|last=Louie|page=ST15|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701095846/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/fashion/weddings/20UNIONS.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="onion_contact_20040117">{{cite web| url=http://www.theonion.com/info/contact_us.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040117063206/http://www.theonion.com/info/contact_us.html|title=Contact Us|website=The Onion|date=January 17, 2004|archive-date=January 17, 2004|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref><ref name="forbes_20050131">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0131/071.html|title=A Funny Thing|magazine=Forbes|date=January 31, 2005|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Mark|last=Tatge|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134624/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0131/071.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="saintpetersburgtimes_20050412">{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/12/Floridian/Peeling_the_Onion.shtml|title=Floridian: Peeling the Onion|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=April 12, 2005|access-date=October 2, 2010|first=Bill|last=Adair|archive-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023014759/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/12/Floridian/Peeling_the_Onion.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theparisreview_20150126">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/01/26/letter-from-new-york-2005|magazine=The Paris Review|title=Letter from New York, 2005: Adventures in tastelessness at ''The Onion''|date=January 26, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Amie|last=Barrodale|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701003126/http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/01/26/letter-from-new-york-2005/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, ''The Onion'' moved its New York City offices from its initial Chelsea location to downtown on Broadway in the [[SoHo]] neighborhood of Manhattan.<ref name="nytimes_20060129">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/nyregion/thecity/29onio.html|title=An Onion Uprooted, Without Tears|work=The New York Times|date=January 29, 2006|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Jake|last=Mooney|archive-date=May 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503165759/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/nyregion/thecity/29onio.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, ''The Onion'' had reached a print circulation of 549,000; it was distributed for free in several cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Misiroglu |first=Gina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iICsBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1625 |title=American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History |date=March 26, 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-47728-0 |language=en |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118143011/https://books.google.com/books?id=iICsBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1625&lpg=PT1625 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same year, it launched a [[YouTube]] channel, which was structured as a parody of modern American television news programs.<ref name="onion_youtube_channel"/> In June 2006, it was also announced that Siegel had been tapped by Miramax Films to write the screenplay for a comedy titled "Homeland Insecurity"<!-- AutoEd: rm unicode ctrl char w/no win-1252 mapping, intent unknown --> which was slated to be about a pair of Arab-Americans who are mistaken for terrorists while traveling to Texas.<ref name="medialifemagazine_20060606"/> Additionally, rumors of a potential sale of ''The Onion'' to media conglomerate [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] began appearing in various news outlets during July 2006 with [[The New York Times|''The New York Times: DealBook'']] expanding on the discussion by stating, "While a source tells DealBook that such a deal has indeed been discussed, it is in very early stages and may never happen."<ref name="onion_youtube_channel">{{cite web|author=The Onion|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOnion|title=The Onion – YouTube|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=March 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323020213/http://www.youtube.com/user/TheOnion|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="medialifemagazine_20060606">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/former-onion-editor-robert-siegel-writing-terrorism-screenplay-for-miramax|magazine=Media Life Magazine|title=Former Onion editor Siegel writing terrorism screenplay for Miramax|date=June 6, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628041619/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/former-onion-editor-robert-siegel-writing-terrorism-screenplay-for-miramax/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="variety_20060717">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/viacom-sniffs-out-onion-1200339658|magazine=Variety|title=Viacom sniffs out Onion|date=July 17, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Jill|last=Goldsmith|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628035654/http://variety.com/2006/digital/markets-festivals/viacom-sniffs-out-onion-1200339658/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost_20060717">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/07/17/viacom-to-buy-the-onion_e_25171.html|work=Huffington Post|title=Viacom To Buy The Onion?|date=July 17, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Rachel|last=Sklar|archive-date=June 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628035455/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/07/17/viacom-to-buy-the-onion_e_25171.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_20060718">{{cite news|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/viacom-and-the-onion-parody-or-deal|work=The New York Times|title=Viacom and The Onion: Parody or Deal?|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709113614/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/viacom-and-the-onion-parody-or-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="businessweek_20060720">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/FineOnMedia/archives/2006/07/insert_joke_abo.html|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|title=Viacom and The Onion: Parody or Deal?|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=June 28, 2015|first=Jon|last=Fine|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630170211/http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/FineOnMedia/archives/2006/07/insert_joke_abo.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="bloombergbusiness_20150701">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-viacom-mtv-sumner-redstone|work=Bloomberg Business|title=Viacom Is Having A Midlife Crisis|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2015|first1=Felix|last1=Gillette|first2=Lucas|last2=Shaw|archive-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703030832/http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-viacom-mtv-sumner-redstone/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2007, ''The Onion'' launched the [[Onion News Network]], a parody of "the visual style and breathless reporting of 24-hour cable news networks like [[CNN]]."<ref name="wsj_20070323">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117459985897745975|title=Press 'Play' for Satire|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=March 23, 2007|access-date=June 25, 2015|first=Sam|last=Schechner|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151446/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117459985897745975|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2008 Carol Kolb became the [[head writer]] of the Onion News Network with the role of the publication's editor being taken over by writer [[Joe Randazzo]]. Randazzo first became a writer for ''The Onion'' in 2006 and—in his role as an editor—became the first editor of the publication that had no connection to ''The Onion'' during the publication's initial Madison, Wisconsin, era.<ref name="washingtonpost_20081116"/><ref name="nytimes_20081121">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/fashion/23irony.html?pagewanted=all|title=Irony Is Dead. Again. Yeah, Right.|work=The New York Times|date=November 21, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Andy|last=Newman|archive-date=April 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428050244/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/fashion/23irony.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thisamericanlife_348">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/348/transcript|title=Tough Room|publisher=This American Life|date=February 8, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Ira|last=Glass|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630183736/http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/348/transcript|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="youtube_20080611">{{YouTube|id=FxVQHCjdmTk|title=Interviewing The Onion at The Webby Awards}}</ref><ref name="wnyc_20080213">{{cite news|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/55450-write-your-own-headline-for-emthe-onionem|title=Write Your Own Headline for ''The Onion''|publisher=TWNYC: The Leonard Lopate Show|date=February 13, 2008|access-date=June 27, 2015|first=Leonard|last=Lopate|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701053441/http://www.wnyc.org/story/55450-write-your-own-headline-for-emthe-onionem/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2009, ''The Onion'' was awarded a [[Peabody Award|2008 Peabody Award]] noting that the publication provides "...ersatz news that has a worrisome ring of truth."<ref name="peabodyawards_2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/onion-news-network|title=Onion News Network|website=The Peabody Awards|date=April 2009|access-date=March 23, 2014|archive-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312083247/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/onion-news-network|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj_digits_20090401">{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/01/the-onion-wins-a-peabody-without-even-trying|title=The Onion Wins a Peabody Without Even Trying|website=Digits – The Wall Street Journal|date=April 1, 2009|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Andrew|last=LaVallee|archive-date=August 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816210104/http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/04/01/the-onion-wins-a-peabody-without-even-trying/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2009, ''The Onion'' released ''Our Front Pages: 21 Years of Greatness, Virtue, and Moral Rectitude From America's Finest News Source'' which was notable in not only compiling dozens of front pages from the publication's history as a news parody but also showcasing front pages from the publication's early, more casual campus humor focused era during the 1980s when the publication featured headlines such as, "Depressed? Try Liposuction on that Pesky Head."<ref name="nytimes_20091102">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/books/03onion.html|work=The New York Times|title=Collecting Headlines Funnier Than This|date=November 2, 2009|access-date=June 28, 2015|first=Eric|last=Konigsberg|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701113604/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/books/03onion.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2009, various news outlets began reporting rumors of an impending sale of ''The Onion'' with further details of the sale to be made on Monday, July 20, 2009.<ref name="cnet_20090715">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10287280-93.html|title=No Joke: Report says ''The Onion'' discussing sale|publisher=news.cnet.com|date=July 15, 2009|access-date=March 23, 2011|first=Greg|last=Sandoval|archive-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234545/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10287280-93.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gawker_20090717">{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5317240/onion-sale-announcement-monday|title=Onion Sale Announcement Monday?|website=Gawker.com|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2011|first=Ryan|last=Tate|archive-date=November 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123173147/https://gawker.com/5317240/onion-sale-announcement-monday|url-status=live}}</ref> The purported sale was revealed as fictional Publisher Emeritus T. Herman Zweibel stating he'd sold the publication to a Chinese company—Yu Wan Mei Corporation—resulting in a week-long series of Chinese-related articles and features throughout the publication's website and print editions.<ref name="onion_20090720">{{cite web|url=http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/well_ive_sold_the_paper_to|title=''Well, I've Sold The Paper To The Chinese''|website=The Onion|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=March 23, 2011|first=T. Herman|last=Zweibel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218222333/http://www.theonion.com/content/columnists/well_ive_sold_the_paper_to|archive-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref><ref name="gawker_20090720">{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/5318527/chopped-onion-makes-us-cry|title=Chopped ''Onion'' Makes Us Cry|website=Gawker.com|date=July 20, 2009|access-date=July 27, 2011|first=Ryan|last=Tate|archive-date=November 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123183200/https://gawker.com/5318527/chopped-onion-makes-us-cry|url-status=live}}</ref> On Wednesday, July 22, 2009, the publication's editor ([[Joe Randazzo]]) clarified the issue on [[National Public Radio]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]'', stating: "I'm sure there are many Chinese conglomerates out there that would love to buy ''The Onion''. We are, in fact, still a solvent independently owned American company."<ref name="npr_20090722">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106894674|title=A New Owner For 'The Onion'?|publisher=NPR: All Things Considered|date=July 22, 2009|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Robert|last=Siegel|archive-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505075300/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106894674|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2011, ''The Onion''{{'}}s website began testing a [[paywall]] model, requiring a $2.95 monthly/$29.95 annual charge from non-U.S. visitors who wish to read more than about five stories within 30 days. "We are testing a meter internationally as readers in those markets are already used to paying directly for some (other) content, particularly in the UK where we have many readers", said the company's CTO Michael Greer.<ref name="paidcontentuk_20110805">{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-the-onion-asks-overseas-readers-to-pay-|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325124815/http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-the-onion-asks-overseas-readers-to-pay-|title=The Onion Testing A Metered Paid Model|publisher=paidcontent.co.uk|date=August 5, 2011|archive-date=March 25, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Robert|last=Andrews|work=paidContent:UK }}</ref><ref name="niemanjournalismlab_20110808">{{cite web|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/08/the-onions-cto-its-paywall-experiment-is-just-that|title=The Onion's CTO: Our paywall experiment is just that|publisher=Nieman Journalism Lab|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Andrew|last=Phelps|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195958/http://www.niemanlab.org/2011/08/the-onions-cto-its-paywall-experiment-is-just-that/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="avclub_20110808">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/about-emthe-onionems-new-paid-content-system-60129|title=About The Onion's new paid content system ...|newspaper=The A.V. Club|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Sean|last=O'Neal|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623093943/http://www.avclub.com/article/about-emthe-onionems-new-paid-content-system-60129|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2011, it was announced that ''The Onion'' would move its entire editorial operation to Chicago by the summer of 2012. The news of the move left many of the writers—who moved with the publication from Madison to New York City in 2000—"blindsided", putting them in a position to decide whether to uproot themselves from New York City and follow the publication to Chicago, which was already home to the company's corporate headquarters. At a comedy show on September 27, 2011, then editor [[Joe Randazzo]] announced that he would not be joining the staff in Chicago.<ref name="digital_journal_201109">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/311837|title=''The Onion'' moving to Chicago, leaves writers 'blindsided'|website=Digital Journal|date=September 22, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Lynn|last=Herrmann|archive-date=January 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118211326/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/311837}}</ref><ref name="huff_post_20110921">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/the-onion-moving-to-chicago_n_974438.html|title=''The Onion'' Could Move To Chicago, Forcing NYC Writers To Relocate Or Leave|website=Huffington Post|date=September 21, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Carol|last=Hartsell|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014705/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-onion-moving-to-chicago_n_974438|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fishbowlNY_201109">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/the-onion-is-leaving-new-york_b43461|title=''The Onion'' is Leaving New York|website=FishbowNY|date=September 22, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Chris|last=O'Shea|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014626/https://www.mediabistro.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="chicago_suntimes_201109">{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/7800527-420/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-to-chicago.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210011418/http://www.suntimes.com/business/7800527-420/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-to-chicago.html|title=''The Onion'' to move editorial staff to Chicago|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 22, 2011|archive-date=February 10, 2013| access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Sandra|last=Guy}}</ref><ref name="poynter_201109">{{cite web|url=http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/146882/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-from-new-york-to-chicago|title=''The Onion'' editorial staff to move from New York to Chicago|website=Poynter.org|date=September 22, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Jim|last=Romenesko|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025073727/http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/romenesko/146882/the-onion-to-move-editorial-staff-from-new-york-to-chicago|archive-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost_20110929">{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/the-onion-to-lose-editor-joe-randazzo_n_987534.html|title=''The Onion'' Editor Joe Randazzo To Leave Ahead Of Chicago Move|website=Huffington Post|date=September 29, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Carol|last=Hartsell|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014623/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-onion-to-lose-editor-joe-randazzo_n_987534|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Chicago (2012–present)===
With the publication's core editorial staff now based in Chicago, in March 2012 Cole Bolton—a [[Brown University]] graduate of business economics, former associate economist at the [[Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago]] and research associate at [[Harvard Business School]]<ref name="splitsider_20140302" /><ref name="wsj_20140505"/>—was named the new editor-in-chief of ''The Onion''. "I was never in an improv group, never in a sketch group, never wrote for an ''Onion'' parody in college", said Bolton in a 2014 interview with comedy publication ''[[The Awl|Splitsider]]''.<ref name="splitsider_20140302"/> "It was just sort of a decision that I decided, two years out of college, that I didn't like where I was going in my life, and I wanted to do something that I cared about more, so I ended up just sending stuff in to ''The Onion''."<ref name="universityofchicago_instituteofpolitics_20150420"/><ref name="splitsider_20140302">{{cite web
| url=http://splitsider.com/2014/03/talking-to-the-onions-new-editor-cole-bolton/
| title=Talking to 'The Onion's New Editor, Cole Bolton
| website=Splitsider
| date=March 2, 2014
| access-date=June 29, 2015
| first=Jeremy
| last=Popkin
| archive-date=March 9, 2014
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309212623/http://splitsider.com/2014/03/talking-to-the-onions-new-editor-cole-bolton/
}}</ref><ref name="wsj_20140505">{{cite news
| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/05/05/funny-money-from-fed-economist-to-editor-of-the-onion/
| title=Funny Money: From Fed Economist to Editor of The Onion
| work=The Wall Street Journal
| date=May 5, 2014
| access-date=June 29, 2015
| first=Pedro Nicolaci
| last=da Costa
| archive-date=June 29, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629132111/http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/05/05/funny-money-from-fed-economist-to-editor-of-the-onion/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="fora_20141029">{{cite web
| url=http://library.fora.tv/2014/10/29/interview_cole_bolton_editor_in_chief_the_onion
| title=Washington Ideas Forum 2014: Interview: Cole Bolton, Editor-in-Chief, The Onion
| website=FORA.tv
| date=October 29, 2014
| access-date=June 29, 2015
| archive-date=March 3, 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234619/http://library.fora.tv/2014/10/29/interview_cole_bolton_editor_in_chief_the_onion
| url-status=usurped
}}</ref>

Additionally, in March 2012 more insight into the internal issues surrounding the Chicago move—including an attempt made by the writers to find a new owner—are explored by articles in ''[[The Atlantic Wire]]''<ref name="atlantic_wire_201203"/> and [[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]]'s ''Daily Intelligencer''.<ref name="new_york_magazine_201203" /> According to an article in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'',<ref name="chicago_tribune_20120331"/> founding editor Scott Dikkers returned to the publication in light of the Chicago move stating that he hopes to find a "younger and hungrier" pool of talent in Chicago than what was available in New York City. "''The Onion'' is obviously always going to draw talent from wherever it is", Dikkers said. "In Madison, people used to just come in off the street [...] and we'd give them a shot. ''The Onion'' has always thrived on the youngest, greenest people."<ref name="huffingtonpost_20110929" /><ref name="atlantic_wire_201203">{{cite web
| url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2012/03/onions-bumpy-ride-chicago/50149/
| title=''The Onion''{{'}}s Bumpy Ride to Chicago
| website=The Wire (The Atlantic)
| date=March 22, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=John
| last=Hudson
| archive-date=September 15, 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915023940/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2012/03/onions-bumpy-ride-chicago/50149/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="new_york_magazine_201203">{{cite magazine
| url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/onion-writers-refuse-to-leave-new-york.html
| title=Writers at ''The Onion'' Refusing to Leave New York for Chicago
| magazine=New York Magazine
| date=March 22, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Joe
| last=Coscarelli
| archive-date=May 1, 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501081503/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/onion-writers-refuse-to-leave-new-york.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="chicago_tribune_20120331">{{cite magazine
| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0401-onion-20120324,0,6580975.story
| title=Nothing Fake About ''The Onion''{{'}}s Move
| magazine=New York Magazine
| date=March 31, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Robert
| last=Channick
| archive-date=January 18, 2023
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114733/https://www.chicagotribune.com/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="wbez_chicago_201204">{{cite web
| url=http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-04/can-chicago-create-sustainable-professional-comedy-industry-rival-coasts-97970
| title=Can Chicago create a sustainable professional comedy industry to rival the coasts?
| website=WBEZ: The BEZ
| date=April 5, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Kate
| last=Dries
| archive-date=January 26, 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126152207/http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-04/can-chicago-create-sustainable-professional-comedy-industry-rival-coasts-97970
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

In August 2012, it was announced that a group of former ''The Onion'' writers had teamed up with [[Adult Swim]] to create comedy content on a website called ''Thing X''. According to the comedy website [[Splitsider]], "''The Onion'' writers had nothing else going on, and AdultSwim.com wanted to take advantage of that. But only because they smelled a business opportunity. Adult Swim is just looking at it from a business standpoint."<ref name="splitsider_20120813">{{cite web
| url=http://splitsider.com/2012/08/adult-swim-and-the-onion-are-teaming-up-to-produce-comedy-videos-maybe/
| title=Adult Swim and Former 'Onion' Writers Are Teaming Up to Produce Comedy Videos, Maybe
| website=Splitsider
| date=August 13, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Adam
| last=Frucci
| archive-date=January 26, 2016
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126225432/http://splitsider.com/2012/08/adult-swim-and-the-onion-are-teaming-up-to-produce-comedy-videos-maybe/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="digitaltrends_201208">{{cite web
| url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/adult-swim-launches-thingx-to-compete-for-internet-comedy-supremacy/
| title=Adult Swim launches Thing X to compete for Internet comedy supremacy
| website=Digital Trends
| date=October 17, 2012
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Graeme
| last=McMillan
| archive-date=April 8, 2020
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408061738/http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/adult-swim-launches-thingx-to-compete-for-internet-comedy-supremacy/
| url-status=live
}}</ref> In June 2013, it was announced that ''Thing X'' would be shutting down with some staff moving over to parent website [[adultswim.com]] on June 18, 2013.<ref name="splitsider_20130612">{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/06/thing-x-is-shutting-down-and-moving-to-adultswim-com|title=Thing X Is Shutting Down and Moving to AdultSwim.com|website=Splitsider|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Bradford|last=Evans|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065336/http://splitsider.com/2013/06/thing-x-is-shutting-down-and-moving-to-adultswim-com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thingx_201306">{{cite web|url=http://www.thingx.tv/articles/thing-x-is-becoming-adultswim-com-2382|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617022210/http://www.thingx.tv/articles/thing-x-is-becoming-adultswim-com-2382|title=Thing X is Becoming Adultswim.com|website=Thing X| date=June 13, 2013| archive-date=June 17, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Joe|last=Randazzo}}</ref> In February 2013 ''The Onion'' was added to ''[[Advertising Age]]''{{'}}s "Digital A-List 2013" because the publication "...has not just survived, it's thrived..." since the publication's 2012 move to consolidate operations and staff in Chicago.<ref name="adage_20130225">{{cite magazine|url=http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-alist-2013/ad-age-digital-a-list-onion/239944|title=Built for Newsprint, The Onion Finds New Life In Social, Video|magazine=Advertising Age|date=February 25, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2015|first=Matthew|last=Creamer|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132835/http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-alist-2013/ad-age-digital-a-list-onion/239944/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2013, the publication announced in ''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' that ''The Onion'' would move to an all-digital format by December 2013, citing a 30% year-over-year growth in page views to the publication's website. The final print edition was published on December 13, 2013.<ref name="chicagobusiness_20131108" />

In 2013, ''The Onion'' received an email from [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]] claiming that an article published about [[Donald Trump]] was [[defamation]], and demanded that it be removed with an apology.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Politico]]|title=How Trump changed everything for The Onion|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809|first=Andrew|last=Restuccia|date=May 20, 2018|quote=Cohen was fuming over a satirical article published under Trump's name with the headline, "When You're Feeling Low, Just Remember I'll Be Dead In About 15 Or 20 Years". On Trump's behalf, Cohen demanded that The Onion immediately remove the article and apologize. "This commentary goes way beyond defamation and, if not immediately removed, I will take all actions necessary to ensure your actions do not go without consequence", Cohen wrote, according to a copy of the email provided to POLITICO. "Guide yourself accordingly."|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709163849/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theonion.com/when-youre-feeling-low-just-remember-ill-be-dead-in-ab-1819584806|publisher=The Onion|title=When You're Feeling Low, Just Remember I'll Be Dead In About 15 Or 20 Years|date=January 23, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831220817/https://www.theonion.com/when-youre-feeling-low-just-remember-ill-be-dead-in-ab-1819584806|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2014, ''The Onion'' launched the spinoff website [[ClickHole]], which satirizes and parodies so-called "[[clickbait]]" websites such as [[BuzzFeed]] and [[Upworthy]] that capitalize on viral content to drive traffic.<ref name="slate_20140619">{{cite web
| url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/06/clickhole_the_onion_s_new_site_is_more_than_a_buzzfeed_parody.html/
| title=Area Humor Site Discovers Clickbait
| website=Slate
| date=June 19, 2014
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Will
| last=Oremus
| archive-date=June 19, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619050559/http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/06/clickhole_the_onion_s_new_site_is_more_than_a_buzzfeed_parody.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

In November 2014, ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' reported that ''The Onion'' had hired a financial adviser for a possible sale.<ref name="bloomberg_20141113">{{cite web
| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/satirist-onion-inc-said-to-hire-adviser-for-sale.html
| title=Satirist Onion Inc. Said to Hire Adviser for Sale
| website=BloombergBusiness
| date=November 13, 2014
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first1=Lucas
| last1=Shaw
| first2=Alex
| last2=Sherman
| archive-date=January 12, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112074507/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/satirist-onion-inc-said-to-hire-adviser-for-sale.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> Additionally, in a memo addressing potential sale rumors provided to Walt Mossberg's tech site [[Re/code]] Onion CEO Steve Hannah states, "We have had follow-up conversations with numerous parties in recent months. Our advisors will continue to have those conversations and, hopefully, they will lead to the right outcome."<ref name="recode_20141114">{{cite web
| url=http://recode.net/2014/11/14/onion-ceo-sure-were-for-sale-but-mostly-we-just-want-money-so-make-an-offer-memo/
| title=Onion CEO: Sure, We're for Sale. But Mostly We Just Want Money, So Make an Offer. (Memo)
| website=Re/code
| date=November 14, 2014
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Peter
| last=Kafka
| archive-date=July 21, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721132711/http://recode.net/2014/11/14/onion-ceo-sure-were-for-sale-but-mostly-we-just-want-money-so-make-an-offer-memo/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

In June 2015 Steve Hannah—the publication's CEO since 2004— stepped down from the position with the new CEO role passed onto current president of the organization, Mike McAvoy.<ref name="crainschicagobusiness_20150606">{{cite web
| url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150606/NEWS06/150609839/area-man-to-become-ceo-of-the-onion
| title=Area man to become CEO of the Onion
| website=Crain's Chicago Business
| date=June 6, 2015
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Lynne
| last=Marek
| archive-date=July 2, 2017
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702145923/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150606/NEWS06/150609839/area-man-to-become-ceo-of-the-onion
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="chicagotribune_20150608">{{cite news
| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-onion-ceo-0609-biz-20150608-story.html
| title=Steve Hannah stepping down as CEO of The Onion
| website=Chicago Tribune
| date=June 8, 2015
| access-date=June 24, 2015
| first=Robert
| last=Channick
| archive-date=June 22, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622143111/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/ct-onion-ceo-0609-biz-20150608-story.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

On September 21, 2015, ''[[StarWipe]]''—a spinoff sister site of ''The A.V. Club'' centered on celebrity culture—was launched.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/welcome-v-clubs-new-sister-site-starwipe-225599|title=Welcome The A.V. Club's new sister site, StarWipe|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=September 21, 2015|access-date=September 26, 2015|archive-date=September 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926091631/http://www.avclub.com/article/welcome-v-clubs-new-sister-site-starwipe-225599|url-status=live}}</ref> It was closed on June 17, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jezebel.com/goodbye-starwipe-we-hardly-knew-you-1782162189|title=Goodbye StarWipe, Se Hardly Knew You|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=September 26, 2015|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617192506/http://jezebel.com/goodbye-starwipe-we-hardly-knew-you-1782162189|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2015, CEO Mike McAvoy announced a restructuring of the organization, layoffs as well as a series of management changes. "But even though we've done well, we have not been able to keep pace with our ambitious goals for Onion Inc." Kurt Mueller—the company's COO—elaborated on the details stating, "We were overstaffed for the non-media-agency part of the business. We have less demand for a ton of new content for a brand. There's demand, but we just overestimated what the demand is."<ref name="Digiday_20151012">{{cite magazine
| url=http://digiday.com/publishers/branded-content-growing-pains-onion-goes-back-basics-restructures-onion-labs/
| title=Branded-content growing pains: The Onion goes 'back to basics,' restructures Onion Labs
| magazine=[[Digiday]]
| date=October 12, 2015
| access-date=October 15, 2015
| first=Lucia
| last=Moses
| archive-date=October 15, 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015002553/http://digiday.com/publishers/branded-content-growing-pains-onion-goes-back-basics-restructures-onion-labs/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

In January 2016, [[Univision Communications]] purchased a 40% stake in Onion, Inc. "As an independent media company, we've always been forced to run a tight financial ship, which has made us smart and lean, but not always ready to invest in the great new ideas that we come up with," Mr. McAvoy said in a memo to staff. "I'm excited to see what we can do with Univision behind us."<ref name="nytimes_20160119">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/business/media/univision-buying-large-stake-in-the-onion.html|title=Univision Buying Large Stake in The Onion|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016|first=Emily|last=Steel|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120070614/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/business/media/univision-buying-large-stake-in-the-onion.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="npr_20160119">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|title=Area Satirical Publication The Onion Sold To Univision (Seriously)|newspaper=NPR|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 19, 2016|first=David|last=Folkenflik|archive-date=June 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621052203/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|url-status=live}}</ref> This brings ''The Onion'' into the [[Fusion Media Group]] arm of Univision, the same media family as the [[Gizmodo]] collection of sites (Kotaku, Lifehacker, Deadspin, etc.), which also has led to a consolidated media management platform and aligned content presentation styles with these sister sites.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Garrahan |first1=Matthew |last2=Bond |first2=Shannon |date=2016-01-19 |title=Univision buys 40% stake in The Onion |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a255d698-beb1-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf |access-date=2023-05-23 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523021819/https://www.ft.com/content/a255d698-beb1-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2017, ''The Onion'' partnered with [[Lionsgate Films]] and production company Serious Business to develop multiple film projects. "We've plotted our takeover of the film industry for some time", said Kyle Ryan, vice president of Onion Studios. "With the help of Serious Business and Lionsgate, we'll make room on our award shelf for some Oscars. To the basement you go, Pulitzers." Serious Business is a production company run by former [[United Talent Agency|UTA Online]] co-founder Jason U. Nadler, ''[[@midnight]]'' co-creator Jon Zimelis and writer/producer Alex Blagg.<ref name="hollywoodreporter_20170109">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/onion-inks-three-film-development-deal-lionsgate-961522|title=The Onion Inks Three-Film Development Deal With Lionsgate (Exclusive)|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2017|first=Erik|last=Hayden|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113121447/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/onion-inks-three-film-development-deal-lionsgate-961522|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2017, the site's editor-in-chief Cole Bolton and executive editor Ben Berkley stepped down from their posts. Chad Nackers—''The Onion'''s head writer—took over the role of editor-in-chief. The departures were partially due to disagreements about the direction the site was taking under the ownership of Univision.<ref name="mic_20170928">{{cite web
| url=https://mic.com/articles/184848/the-onion-editor-in-chief-resigns-reportedly-over-differences-with-univision-ownership
| title=The 'Onion' editor-in-chief resigns, reportedly over differences with Univision ownership
| website=The Hollywood Reporter
| date=September 28, 2017
| access-date=December 24, 2017
| first1=Anthony
| last1=Smith
| first2=Kelsey
| last2=Sutton
| archive-date=March 30, 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330100556/https://mic.com/articles/184848/the-onion-editor-in-chief-resigns-reportedly-over-differences-with-univision-ownership
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

In April 2018 the employees of the company unionized with The Writers Guild Of America, East.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 29, 2018|title=Staff of the satire website The Onion has unionized|url=https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024410/https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|url-status=live}}</ref> The union comprises "all of the creative staffs at Onion Inc.: ''The A.V. Club'', ''The Onion'', ''ClickHole'', ''The Takeout'', Onion Labs, and Onion Inc.'s video and art departments."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Club|first=The A. V.|title=Onion Inc. has unionized|url=https://www.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=News|date=March 29, 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809202621/https://news.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/onionincunion/status/987440021392248832|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=May 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507213325/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/987440021392248832|url-status=live}}</ref> and reached a contract agreement with management on December 20, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tweet|url=https://twitter.com/onionincunion/status/1075831417509240838|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108162954/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/1075831417509240838|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, rumors of pending layoffs at ''The Onion'' and related websites ''Clickhole'' and ''The A.V. Club'' were reported. Corporate parent Univision Communications is said to be looking to reduce the staff of the humor publication by around 15% amidst news of a pending sale of ''The Onion'' and related websites as well as Gizmodo Media Group assets. As stated an official Univision press release on the topic, "Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) […] today announced that the Company has initiated a formal process to explore the sale of the assets comprising the Gizmodo Media Group (GMG) and ''The Onion''."<ref name="deadline_20180706">{{cite web
| url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/layoffs-looming-the-onion-univision-gizmodo-media-1202422395/
| title=Layoffs Looming Over The Onion As Univision Reviews Its Operations
| website=Deadline: Hollywood
| date=July 6, 2018
| access-date=July 11, 2018
| first1=Dawn C.
| last1=Chmielewski
| first2=Dade
| last2=Hayes
| archive-date=July 11, 2018
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711190217/https://deadline.com/2018/07/layoffs-looming-the-onion-univision-gizmodo-media-1202422395/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="thehill_20180706">{{cite web
| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/395847-univision-to-cut-staff-at-the-onion/
| title=Univision to cut staff at The Onion
| website=The Hill
| date=July 6, 2018
| access-date=July 11, 2018
| first1=Joe
| last1=Concha
| archive-date=January 18, 2023
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114734/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/395847-univision-to-cut-staff-at-the-onion/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="thehill_20180710">{{cite web
| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/396363-univision-to-sell-the-onion-gizmodo-media-group/
| title=Univision to sell The Onion, Gizmodo Media Group
| website=The Hill
| date=July 10, 2018
| access-date=July 11, 2018
| first1=Emily
| last1=Birnbaum
| archive-date=January 18, 2023
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114734/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/396363-univision-to-sell-the-onion-gizmodo-media-group/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="univision_20180710">{{cite web
| url=https://corporate.univision.com/press/2018/07/10/univision-to-explore-potential-sale-of-gizmodo-media-group-and-the-onion/
| title=Univision to Explore Potential Sale of Gizmodo Media Group and The Onion
| website=Univision Communications, Inc.
| date=July 10, 2018
| access-date=July 10, 2018
| first1=UCI
| last1=PR Team
| archive-date=July 11, 2018
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711012329/https://corporate.univision.com/press/2018/07/10/univision-to-explore-potential-sale-of-gizmodo-media-group-and-the-onion/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

On April 8, 2019, private equity firm Great Hill Partners acquired Gizmodo Media Group—including ''The Onion'', ''The A.V. Club'', and ''Clickhole''—from Univision for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/08/great-hill-partners-acquires-gizmodo/|title=Gizmodo Media Group acquired by private equity firm Great Hill Partners|website=TechCrunch|date=April 8, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118114735/https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/08/great-hill-partners-acquires-gizmodo/|url-status=live}}</ref> The properties were formed into a new company named [[G/O Media Inc.]]<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Gerry |title=Area Man Takes Over the Onion and Gizmodo Group in Private Equity Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-08/area-man-takes-over-the-onion-as-part-of-private-equity-deal |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522021549/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-08/area-man-takes-over-the-onion-as-part-of-private-equity-deal |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Atkinson |first1=Claire |title=Univision sells Gizmodo Media Group, owner of The Onion, to private equity company |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group-private-equity-firm-n992066 |website=NBC News |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619095652/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/univision-sells-gizmodo-media-group-private-equity-firm-n992066 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, G/O sold The A.V. Club to [[Paste Magazine]] and was reported to be seeking buyers for ''The Onion''.<ref>{{cite news |last4=Steigrad |first4=Alexandra |title=Former Deadspin owner G/O Media puts The Onion up for sale: source |url=https://nypost.com/2024/03/26/media/former-deadspin-owner-g-o-media-puts-the-onion-up-for-sale-source/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |date=26 March 2024}}</ref>

On April 25, 2024, CEO Jim Spanfeller told employees that G/O had sold ''The Onion'' to Chicago firm Global Tetrahedron, which is owned by [[Twilio]] founder Jeff Lawson, with former [[NBC News]] reporter [[Ben Collins (reporter)|Ben Collins]] serving as CEO.<ref name="nyt-robertson-24">{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Katie |date=April 25, 2024 |title=The Onion Is Sold by G/O Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/business/media/the-onion-sold.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> As a condition of the deal, the new owners said they would retain the website's staff and keep it based in Chicago.<ref name="tetrahedron sale">{{cite news |last1=Lindsay |first1=Benjamin |date=25 April 2024 |title=G/O Media Sells The Onion to Chicago-Based Global Tetrahedron |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-onion-sells-to-global-tetrahedron-go-media/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |work=TheWrap}}</ref> The name "Global Tetrahedron" is taken from a "fictional evil megacorporation" that has been the subject of a running gag in ''The Onion'' articles.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=Long |first1=Katherine |last2=Stewart |first2=Ashley |title=Twilio cofounder Jeff Lawson appears to have just bought The Onion |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twilio-founder-jeff-lawson-bought-the-onion-2024-4 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> New leaders at the company also included Danielle Strle as chief product officer and Leila Brillson as chief marketing officer.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Primack |first=Dan |date=2024-04-26 |title=Inside the sale of The Onion, and what comes next |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/26/the-onion-sale-future-twilio-jeff-lawson |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref> Global Tetrahedron promised that the buyers would continue to honor ''Onion'' staffers' union contract, and that ''Onion'' employees would be part of a revenue sharing plan.<ref name=":4" />

On November 14, 2024, through a bankruptcy auction, Global Tetrahedron [[Infowars#Bankruptcy and proposed acquisition|attempted to purchase]] ''[[InfoWars]]'', a [[conspiracy theory|conspiratorial]] far-right<!-- As described on the Infowars Wikipedia page. --> website founded by [[Alex Jones]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Dave |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones' Infowars at auction with Sandy Hook families' backing |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-date=November 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241114180317/https://apnews.com/article/onion-buys-infowars-alex-jones-6496f198d141c991087dcd937b3588e9 |url-status=live }}</ref> Collins stated that Global Tetrahedron's intent was to turn ''InfoWars'' into a parody of Jones's conspiracy theories, adding genuine gun violence prevention information to the site as well. The purchase was supported by families of the victims of the [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]], who had successfully sued Jones for [[defamation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Benjamin |date=November 14, 2024 |title=The Onion Says It Has Bought Infowars, Alex Jones's Site, Out of Bankruptcy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/business/media/alex-jones-infowars-the-onion.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The purchase was initially halted the following day, and on December 10, the federal bankruptcy judge overseeing Jones's case, Christopher Lopez, rejected the sale, concluding that the bidding process was flawed. Lopez ordered an evidentiary hearing regarding the auction, saying "I’m going to figure out exactly what happened" and that "no one should feel comfortable with the results of this auction.”<ref>{{cite web |last=Keys |first=Matthew |date=15 November 2024 |title=Judge freezes Infowars acquisition by the Onion, orders evidentiary hearing over auction concerns |url=https://thedesk.net/2024/11/judge-evidentiary-hearing-the-onion-infowars/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |publisher=The Desk}}</ref> No date was immediately set for a new auction,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-10 |title=Judge rejects sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion in dispute over bankruptcy auction |url=https://apnews.com/article/infowars-onion-6bbdfb7d8d87b2f114570fcde4e39930#https://apnews.com/article/infowars-onion-6bbdfb7d8d87b2f114570fcde4e39930 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> and in early 2025 the bankruptcy court rejected the purchase attempt, as ''InfoWars's'' parent company was no longer in bankruptcy and thus the website was no longer an asset eligible for auction through the court.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Tovia | title=Judge denies Sandy Hook families' deal for a new auction of Alex Jones' Infowars | website=NPR | date=2025-02-05 | url=https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/g-s1-46738/infowars-alex-jones-onion-bankruptcy-judge-sandy-hook | access-date=2025-04-23}}</ref>

====Print edition (1988–2013)====
During ''The Onion'' print edition's 25-year run—from the publication's initial creation in 1988 to the end of the print edition in 2013—it was distributed for free in various cities across the United States and Canada as well as via paid mail order subscription to subscribers around the world. By the time the print edition of ''The Onion'' ceased publication in December 2013, it was only available in Chicago, Milwaukee and Providence. At its peak, ''The Onion'' had a print circulation of about 500,000 while the publication's websites brought in more than 10 million unique monthly visitors. Below is a list of all of the cities in which ''The Onion'' was distributed freely at different points from 1988 to 2013.<ref name="chicago_tribune_20120331" /><ref name="avclub_20090527">{{cite news
| url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-comes-to-omaha-and-santa-fe-1798225794
| title=''The A.V. Club'' comes to Omaha and Santa Fe
| publisher=The Onion A.V. Club
| date=May 27, 2009
| access-date=June 9, 2011
| first=Marcus
| last=Gilmer
| archive-date=May 31, 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531023515/http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-av-club-comes-to-omaha-and-santa-fe%2C56691/
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="columbusbusinessfirst_20110825">{{cite news
| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/08/25/onion-coming-to-columbus-under-deal.html
| title='Onion' coming to Columbus under deal with Dispatch
| newspaper=Columbus Business First
| date=August 25, 2011
| access-date=August 25, 2011
| archive-date=March 20, 2021
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320061200/https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/08/25/onion-coming-to-columbus-under-deal.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="pbsnewshour_20131108">{{cite news
| url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/not-a-joke-the-onion-will-end-its-final-print-circulations/
| title=Not a joke: The Onion will end its final print circulations
| publisher=PBS: Newshour
| date=November 8, 2013
| access-date=August 12, 2014
| archive-date=April 17, 2014
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417044845/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/not-a-joke-the-onion-will-end-its-final-print-circulations/
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]]
* [[Austin, Texas]]
* [[Boulder, Colorado]]
* [[Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area|Champaign–Urbana, Illinois]]
* [[Chicago, Illinois]]
* [[Columbus, Ohio]]
* [[Denver, Colorado]]
* [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
* [[Iowa City, Iowa]]
* [[Los Angeles, California]]
* [[Madison, Wisconsin]]
* [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
* [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
* [[New York City, New York]]
* [[Omaha, Nebraska]]
* [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Providence, Rhode Island]]
* [[San Francisco, California]]
* [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
* [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
* [[Washington, D.C.]]
{{div col end}}

====Print edition (2024–)====
In August 2024, the new owners of ''The Onion'' announced that a monthly print edition would be returning by mail to subscribers.<ref name="NYT 2024">{{Cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |last2=Davis |first2=Jamie Kelter |date=2024-08-16 |title=No Joke: The Onion Thinks Print Is the Future of Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/business/media/the-onion-print-paper.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> ''The Onion'' printed a special 40,000-copy run for the [[Democratic National Convention]] that month.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Patel |first1=Nilay |last2=Collins |first2=Ben |last3=Strle |first3=Danielle |date=2024-08-22 |title=How The Onion is saving itself from the digital media death spiral |url=https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250508124431/https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview |archive-date=2025-05-08 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=The Verge}}</ref>