These are just a few of the top stories from the satirical newspaper, The Onion. On Tuesday, the “Onion News Network,” a television broadcast, came back on the air for its second season on IFC, the INdependent FIlm Channel. Self-proclaimed as “America’s Finest News Source,” the Onion has become a popular source for everyone’s poking-fun-at-journalism needs, especially since its website’s creation in 1996. From stories about everyday annoyances to larger commentary pieces (“’Layoffs are necessary if we want to keep the lights on,’ says CEO halfway through tasting menu”). The Onion interprets the “news” in its own way.

The Sept. 29 issue of "America's finest news source," The Onion. The satirical news found in the print edition can now also be found on the Onion News Network via the Independent Film Channel. (CU Independent Photo Illustration/Robert R. Denton)

Though Onion stories often mention real people (“Obama not sure how to handle compliment”) and reference current events, creative writers are the masterminds behind this faux-news. Suzanne Sena, who plays Brooke Alvarez, the show’s anchor, said The Onion acts like a real news source — sort of.

“The Onion doesn’t refer to themselves as fake news at all, they consider themselves real news in an alternative reality,” Sena said. “Should you watch The Onion and think of it as legitimate news to find out what’s going on in the world? Probably not.”

But if this isn’t a legitimate news source, and there are hundreds of news stories waiting to be read online, why do students choose to spend their time with stories like “Study: Multiple stab wounds may be harmful to monkeys.” Even without the The Onion, there are plenty of other news-parody comedians, such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, which also draw many college-aged fans.

Associate Professor Michael McDevitt, whose specialties include news-writing, research and media theory, said that students often want to appear knowledgeable about events, even though they don’t pay attention to the news.

“What ‘The Onion’ does is it allows for consideration of topical news in a way that’s fun and that’s hip,” McDevitt said. “I think it’s also beneficial to college students because in order to get some of the humor, you do have to pay attention at some level to what’s going on in the news, otherwise the jokes just pass you by.”

The appeal of The Onion’s fake news may go beyond sarcastic headlines and pop culture references. Sena, who was once an anchor for Fox News, plays Alvarez as a caricature of stoic newscasters. Her severe comments and icy looks exaggerate a persona that many viewers have come to expect from an anchor.

Sena said that “Onion News Network” tries to raise awareness about negative aspects of broadcast news.

“I think all of us have felt certain things are kind of ludicrous when it comes to certain news stations,” Sena said. “Just the way a cable news station might take one story and beat it to death for three days in a row, but they do it because they have 24 hours to fill with content. And so we make fun of some of that.”

McDevitt said that fake news sources like The Onion often use humor to make journalists more accountable to their audience.

“[Their purpose is] to shame corporate journalists into doing a better job,” McDevitt said. “It’s also to improve the media literacy of citizens so that, by getting the joke, they also see the limitations of journalists. The humor is a vehicle for them to realize that their frustrations are not misplaced, that other smart people are frustrated.”

No matter what the reason, audiences continue to enjoy the hilarious and offensive antics of The Onion. Sena said that the new season of “Onion News Network” will include more character development of their cast and heighten its courageous humor.

“It pushes the limit, it goes beyond the edge of what’s acceptable and what may not be,” Sena said. “If we were partially offensive last time, we’re majorly offensive this time, all in good fun.”

Contact CU Independent Entertainment Editor Stephanie Riesco at Stephanie.riesco@colorado.edu.

But freedom of speech is also the reason why independent research is often necessary to understand current events, and the reason why you can’t trust every piece of information that gets posted on the internet.

(CU Independent Illustration/Josh Shettler)

Although freedom of speech is highly valued in American society, there are some laws that place restrictions on the extent to which it can be employed. In legal terms, this is known as libel, slander, or defamation. The purpose of these laws is to ensure that the freedom of speech is not abused, and protecting individuals physically or financially from harm.

Sometimes however, these laws muddy the true meaning of free speech. How can free speech be free, in the true sense of the word, if there are restrictions on it? This issue presented itself in a very public way, just a week ago.

Last week, a satirical newspaper the Onion, sparked a panic in Washington, leaving some to ponder that question. The article, in breaking news fashion, spoofed the American Congress, joking that Republican party members had taken civilian children hostage at gunpoint to use as mules in political negotiations.

Despite the fact that the Onion is widely known for satirizing current events, the article was taken literally, leading to a major fiasco on Capitol Hill. Officials promptly issued statements to assure citizens that the story was false, and the Speaker of the House John Boehner was not holding children hostage.

Now, the Onion is in hot water with Washington police, alongside the integrity of free speech.

When debate started to boil up over this controversy, the first thought that popped into my head was, “Wasn’t this article from the Onion?” The article was in poor taste; I’ll be the first to admit that. Satire or not, holding children at gunpoint is not exactly my idea of comedy.

A major source of contention was the fake video clip that accompanied the article. The video is only a few short seconds, but features voiceovers of Republican officials discussing their hostages, and finishes off with a gunshot. The video, coupled with claims that the Speaker of the House held “[a] serrated switchblade to one of the fourth-grader’s throats,” makes for a distasteful article.

Given the source of the article however, it is outrageous that the information was taken seriously. The Onion is not known for its journalistic integrity, and if Americans are now considering it as their news source, then we have bigger issues than the potentiality of defamation.

The Onion is currently subject to an investigation by the Capitol Police over the hostage article.

The investigation, however, is wholly unnecessary. The entire article was based on false, fabricated information.  If the Onion were a news source, like CNN, then I might be telling a different story.

But the Onion is not a news source. It could be more accurately described as elaborate joking.

Instead of being condemned, the Onion should be applauded for its outspokenness. This fake newspaper should be a symbol of just how valuable the freedom of speech can be.

Do some reading on the Onion website, and it will become readily apparent that the articles are not intended to be taken seriously. This controversy should not be focused on whether or not the Onion went past the limits of free speech. It should be focused on the responsibility of Americans to be informed and be wary of their news sources.

For those of us that enjoy our right to the freedom of speech, a close eye should be kept on this story.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Taryne Tosetti at Taryne.tosetti@colorado.edu.