In Fact...

This article appeared in the June 9, 2003 edition of The Nation.

May 21, 2003

SPANISH ONION

Abby Aguirre writes: It's been known to happen: An unsuspecting editor runs a piece from America's satirical tabloid The Onion as a straight story. On May 4, readers of ABC, Spain's second-largest daily, learned that the next ruler of Iraq would be determined by the new Fox reality show Appointed by America. Following The Onion's lead, ABC reported that the winner of Elegido por América would be named president of Iraq in a season finale broadcast live from Baghdad on June 24 and that hopeful contestant Kymbyrley Lake, a cashier from Texas, was convinced she would win. The only thing more disconcerting than ABC's not realizing the piece was satirical is that somehow the story didn't make front-page news.

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