Beijings' news source. The Onion

twyg

twyg

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Classic, just classic...

Paper Falls for Gag in Humor Tabloid
June 7, 2002 9:57 am EST

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing's most popular newspaper has unwittingly republished a bogus story about U.S. Congress threats to skip town for Memphis or Charlotte unless Washington builds them a new Capitol building with a retractable dome.

The source? America's celebrated spoof tabloid, the Onion.

The Beijing Evening News, which claims a circulation of 1.25 million, translated portions of the Onion's tall tale word-for-word in the international news page of its June 3 edition.

The reprinted version of the May 29 article, which parodies Congress as a Major League Baseball squad, also copied the Onion's would-be blueprint for a new legislative home that resembles a ballpark. "Don't get us wrong: We love the drafty old building," the Onion quoted House Speaker Dennis Hastert as saying.

"But the hard reality is, it's no longer suitable for a world-class legislative branch. The sight lines are bad, there aren't enough concession stands or bathrooms, and the parking is miserable."

The spoof from the brazen entertainment tabloid, which dubs itself "America's finest news source," apparently took in the Evening News.

"The story was written by one of our freelance writers," an editor at the Evening News told Reuters on Friday. "His stuff has been pretty much reliable before."

The editor said he had received other calls from readers about the article. "They were also suspicious of the contents."

Told the story came from the Onion and was not true, the editor said, "We would first have to check that out. If it's indeed fake, I'm sure there will be some form of correction."
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Yeah, pretty soon some other country is going to end up quoting the Register or Segfault.org as its news source... Oh wait, I think that's been done.
 
That is funny!

I live in Madison, WI (home of the Onion) I frequently pick up my free printed copy, as some of them don't make it online.

The Onion
 
evildan: you're a Madisonian too! I thought I was the only one. Well well well, pleased to make your acquaintance. Are you perchance a UW student like me?

I was quite displeased when the Onion moved its headquarters to New York. :( Succumbed to corporate temptations, I guess. :rolleyes: It still puts out great stuff, though. :D
 
Nope Homer, I am out of college.

I just recently moved to the area. But before I moved I visited Madison about once a month to visit State Street, etc. I love this town.

I was also very upset when they moved. The president was on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with John Stewart." when I found out they were moving to New York.

Nice to meet you Homer, good to see a fellow Mad-Town resident on the forums. :)
 
Ah yes, I too am out of my undergrad days (praise Hallelujah), and in about a week I'll embark on my month-long doctoral prelims, after which I'll be done with classes forever and ever. I can't wait. After that, just research and dissertation, and then done with school. D'oh! I mean, whoohoo!

Ah State Street. I lost my enchantment with State Street when I went there on Halloween night. A little too many crazies for my liking (as in about three crazies per square foot).

Nonetheless, yup, Madison is great. :)
 
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