When satirical newspaper the Onion decided to move its editorial staff to Chicago last year, the Atlantic Wire ran a piece noting that the Onion would lose a "core group" of writers and editors who were opposed to the idea of setting down roots in the Second City.
The Atlantic Wire piece was chock-full of quotes guaranteed to annoy many Chicagoans. "Nothing against Chicago," one staffer told the Atlantic. "I think it's a great town. But we're here in the center of everything and it's still a challenge to find good people." In a separate article on the tech website BetaBeat, Baratunde Thurston, the Onion's former head of digital, described Chicago as "a great city — especially in the summer, maybe only in the summer."
Comments on the Atlantic's piece were quite funny, especially the ones slamming Onion staffers who refused to move. "I dont understand the big kerfuffle from being moved from NYC to Chicago. Chicago is a great comedy hub and more down to earth than NYC. Seems like a great match for the Onion. Its not like you're moving to Omaha, guys." Another comment: "Oooh, we couldn't leave our overpriced rent-controlled shoebox in Williamsburg! Flyoverland is scary!"
So far, however, Chicago has given a warm welcome to the Onion's editorial staff, starting with a celebration that took place last night at River North's Paris Club.
This week, Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon issued a statement welcoming the Onion to Chicago and declaring yesterday — July 31 — "The Onion Day" in Illinois. At the Paris Club event, which the Onion organized along with Chicago's Better Government Association, Ms. Simon played her banjo and dedicated a new song to the Onion.
Along with the banjo playing, Onion President and CEO Steve Hannah "sat in a chair on stage and clicked through a series of slides and videos, showcasing his satirical media company's work without acknowledging the audience," The Wall Street Journal reported.
More from the Journal's report from the event:
"Each guest was allotted two tickets for two free drinks, with a choice of wine or beer. The after-work crowd mingled and hovered over the black and white leather furniture and the exposed brick and beams of the upstairs Paris Club. An open glass ceiling acted as a saucer of light, pouring out a gauzy glow on the crowd, as they cupped their drinks and picked at mini lobster crostini and steak tartare. One wall was covered in fake grass, another blanketed in black and white photographs.
"Andy Shaw, the current leader of the BGA and a former TV reporter in Chicago, welcomed the crowd and introduced Mr. Hannah, his fraternity brother at Colgate University in the 1960s, as a 'cocky tennis player' in his youth."
The Atlantic Wire reported that of 16 full-time members of The Onion's editorial staff, including editorial operations, writers, editors and the graphics/photo team, only five agreed to move from New York to Chicago. The publication now has 100 employees in all from the Onion and its sister operation, the A.V. Club.
Its new offices are at 212 W. Superior St. and include a studio for video production, NBC Chicago reported this week.
— Zoe Galland