Scott Dikkers

Co-Founder of The Onion & New York Times Bestselling Author

Minneapolis, MN, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $10,000 - $20,000 More Fee Info
Author, Bestselling Authors, Business, Business Leadership, College, Comedian, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Modern Media, News & Media, Political
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Scott Dikkers Biography

Scott Dikkers is a prominent figure in American comedy, recognized as the cofounder and longest-serving editor-in-chief of The Onion. Dikkers began his association with The Onion by contributing cartoons to its early issues and later purchased the satirical newspaper. He founded TheOnion.com, establishing it as the world's first humor website, and also created The AV Club.

Before his work in comedy writing and satire, Dikkers developed his skills as a cartoonist, creating the comic strip "Jim's Journal," which was syndicated to college newspapers and became known for its depiction of a passive protagonist reflecting the experiences of Millennials. Dikkers has written and directed several films, including episodes of "The Onion News Network" web series and independent features such as "Spaceman" and "Bad Meat," which featured Chevy Chase. He is also a voice actor, performing in national commercials, video games, and animated cartoons, including Saturday Night Live's TV Funhouse.

Dikkers's contributions to The Onion have received critical acclaim, earning honors such as the Peabody Award, the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and multiple Webby Awards. He was recognized by Time magazine on its list of the Top 50 Cyber Elite and has been acknowledged by Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly for his impact on comedy writing and satire. As an author, Dikkers co-wrote and edited The Onion's book "Our Dumb Century," which sold more than a million copies and debuted as a No. 1 New York Times and Amazon bestseller. "Our Dumb World" also appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.

In addition to his editorial and writing work, Dikkers is active in comedy education and entrepreneurship. He authored "How to Write Funny" and its sequels, providing guidance on humor writing. Dikkers leads the "Writing with The Onion" training center at Second City in Chicago, where his students have gone on to write for television and win Emmy Awards. He has consulted for entertainment companies including NBC, Comedy Central, and Pixar. His book "Outrageous Marketing: The Story of The Onion and How To Build a Powerful Brand with No Marketing Budget" details his approach to brand development and marketing in the comedy industry.

Dikkers has spoken about overcoming personal challenges, including a difficult upbringing marked by poverty, divorce, and bullying. He credits MAD Magazine as an early inspiration for his passion for comedy and satire. Dikkers is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, comedy writer, comedian, and founder of TheOnion.com. His book "The Onion Story" recounts anecdotes from the satirical newsroom, highlighting creativity, resilience, and the power of humor.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/10/2026.

Scott Dikkers Speaking Topics

  • A Disruptive Guide to Being Creative

    In the age of AI, how can we still be creative?

    It’s true, AI is THE disruption on everyone’s mind — teams in every industry wonder if they are safe from job extinction, while leaders explore how AI will generate and save money. In the midst of programming, automation, and data points, the art of human creativity (using brains and emotions) is still the key to innovation.

    Scott Dikkers’s talk ISN’T about AI expertise, it IS using a proven creativity method (with other humans or in conjunction with AI) that he used to make The Onion a multi-million dollar company. Scott is a creative catalyst who used a process that leads to constant innovation, improvisation, and adaptability.

    While The Onion may be all humor, it is a serious business that has traveled through highways of disruption (from the fall of print media to the rise of the internet, and more). The future of work has always been here. Everything is changing around us — the way we work, interact, and accomplish anything.

    Creativity is how The Onion survived and thrived amid a market crash, digital transition, a hybrid office, and increased stealth competition. Scott’s talk provides attendees a clear method that teams and leaders can use while reminding them of their vital role in innovation.

  • Decoding Satire and Misinformation in a Modern Media Age

    Have you ever seen a story in your news feed from The Onion and thought it was real?

    Nowadays, it’s hard to tell satire from real news.

    Scott Dikkers is the founding and longest serving editor of The Onion, the original fake newspaper.

    Audiences at colleges universities and other educational organizations have a great time when he comes to speak on their campus. He brings plenty of laughs, of course, and outrageous stories about the crazy characters, wild mix-ups, and legal troubles you might expect to hear about — from The Onion’s storied history, all the way up to the present day. Scott shares an important message that’s uniquely relevant with three big takeaways:

    • Read critically

    How are we supposed to separate knowledge from conspiracy, truth from lies? It’s not easy anymore. We live in a world where far too many people believe the Earth is flat, or that we didn’t land on the moon, or that nanobots are going to turn us all into flesh-eating zombies. Scott will make a big impact with attendees, stressing the importance of approaching everything we read with questions and curiosity instead of blind acceptance.

    • Check your sources

    Since the day The Onion was founded, Scott has been compelling people to think about where they’re getting their information. Today, a lot of people are understandably confused about how to navigate this strange media landscape we find ourselves in. We have news feeds now instead of newspapers, and we all need to be more Discerning media consumers. This gets to the core of what education is all about.

    • Spread the truth you know

    We’re all in the media now, whether we like it or not. We distribute information to our friends, family, and to our broader followers, so we all need to be responsible journalists. We didn’t sign up for this, but that’s the price of living in the modern digital world.

    Scott engages with students and community members who love asking him questions and getting into lively discussions about media literacy and other topics, from creative writing to entrepreneurship and marketing.

    Attendees will walk away from his talk entertained for sure, but also clear-eyed about the importance of being informed and just maybe, they’ll think twice next time they see something a little too crazy to be true in their news feed.

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Scott Dikkers Videos

Scott Dikkers (TheOnion.com founder): New Keynote: The Onion Way

Scott Dikkers (TheOnion.com founder): New Keynote: The Onion Way

How to be funny l The Onion Co-Founder Scott Dikkers

How to be funny l The Onion Co-Founder Scott Dikkers

How To Write Jokes With Scott Dikkers - Writing Comedy & Making A

How To Write Jokes With Scott Dikkers - Writing Comedy & Making A

See All Videos »

Creativity Machine: How to Innovate, Brainstorm, and Hatch Great Ideas on Command
Creativity Machine: How to Innovate, Brainstorm, and Hatch Great Ideas on Command
Trump's America: The Complete Loser's Guide
Trump's America: The Complete Loser's Guide

  • How do I book Scott Dikkers to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Scott Dikkers

    Speaking fees for Scott Dikkers, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Scott Dikkers are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Scott Dikkers, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Scott Dikkers speak about?

    Scott Dikkers is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Bestselling Authors, Business, Business Leadership, College, Comedian, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Modern Media, News & Media, Political

  • Where does Scott Dikkers travel from?

    Scott Dikkers generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Scott Dikkers for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Scott Dikkers for your next private or corporate function.

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Scott Dikkers is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as A Disruptive Guide to Being Creative, Decoding Satire and Misinformation in a Modern Media Age, The Funny Story Behind the Funny Stories and The Onion Way. The estimated speaking fee range to book Scott Dikkers for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Scott Dikkers generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Amy Jo Martin, Peter Diamandis, Gary Vaynerchuk, Ben Stein and Howard Schultz. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Scott Dikkers for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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