Editing The Onion (section)

=== 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>