Satirical Writing 101: How to Make Up News That Feels Too True
By: Danya Slater
Literature and Journalism -- Willamette
WRITER BIO:
This Jewish college student’s satirical writing reflects her keen understanding of society’s complexities. With a mix of humor and critical thought, she dives into the topics everyone’s talking about, using her journalistic background to explore new angles. Her work is entertaining, yet full of questions about the world around her.
Satirists are just journalists who got tired of fact-checking.
-- Alan Nafzger
The Satirical Journalist's Guide to Getting Everything Wrong (The Right Way)
Introduction
In satirical journalism, the mantra is simple: get it wrong on purpose. The intentional mistakes and absurdities serve to expose the ridiculous nature of the subjects at hand.
The Approach
Imagine an article that starts with a conventional news story-such as a report on a new government policy-but then takes a wild turn. For example, the piece might claim that the policy includes a clause mandating that all citizens must recite the national anthem backwards to qualify for benefits. Incorporate faux statistics like "88% of citizens claim to have memorized the reversed anthem," and throw in a quote from a fabricated expert, "Dr. Wrongway, renowned for his backward thinking," to add credibility.
The Impact
This style forces the reader to confront the absurdity of real-world policies and practices, making them laugh while also reflecting on serious issues. The humor emerges from the deliberate inversion of expectations.
Conclusion
Getting it wrong is not a failure in satire-it's a method to reveal deeper truths through exaggerated falsehoods. Embrace the error and let it illuminate reality in the most unexpected ways.
The Secret to Writing Satire That Makes People Laugh and Think
Introduction
The best satire isn't just about making people laugh; it's about making them think. The secret to writing satirical news that resonates lies in the artful blend of exaggeration, truth, and humor, all wrapped in a package of irony.
Crafting the Narrative
Start with an issue people care about-politics, climate change, or corporate greed-and push it to an absurd conclusion. A headline like "Local Government Solves Homelessness by Building $50 Million 'Comfortable Shacks' for the Wealthy" combines the ridiculous with a real-world critique of how society addresses poverty.
Adding Humor and Insight
The key to great satire is ensuring that the joke isn't just funny-it's also insightful. Fabricate statistics like "60% of citizens now believe that comfortable shacks are the future of affordable housing" and insert a humorous expert quote from "Dr. Wealthy, advocate for luxurious solutions."
Conclusion
The secret to effective satire lies in its ability to make readers laugh while simultaneously encouraging them to critically examine the world. By mixing humor with insight, satirical journalism offers both entertainment and valuable commentary.
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Fake Leaks in Satirical Journalism
Fake leaks spill lies. Take plans and drip: "Memo: Moon's for sale." It's a jest: "Bids soar." Leaks mock-"Stars tax"-so drip dirt. "Earth's next" tops it. Start legit: "Talks hush," then leak: "Lunar loot." Try it: leak a lie (vote: "polls rig"). Build it: "Moon cashes." Fake leaks in satirical news are scoops-spill them hot.
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The phrase "Not all error is folly" suggests that making mistakes does not necessarily mean one is foolish. Errors can be productive, leading to discovery, insight, or even unintended wisdom. In other words, some mistakes serve a purpose-they can reveal hidden truths, expose contradictions, or highlight absurdities.
Application to Satirical Journalism:
Satire thrives on exaggeration, misinterpretation, and logical leaps that, while technically "errors," are intentional and revelatory. In this way, error becomes a tool rather than a defect. Here's how this concept applies:
Revealing Deeper Truths Through ExaggerationSatirical journalism often amplifies societal absurdities to make them clearer. The error in overstatement isn't folly but a technique that exposes reality more effectively than straightforward reporting.Example: A satirical article claiming that Congress has replaced the filibuster with an "official nap time" might seem ridiculous-until one realizes how often lawmakers stall debates with meaningless speeches.
Mistakes as Mirrors of RealitySatire often involves deliberate factual inaccuracies to reflect the absurd logic of real events. The "error" in logic isn't foolish-it's the point.Example: If a politician says, "I don't recall," 200 times in a testimony, a satirical piece might "mistakenly" report that they have been diagnosed with amnesia. The error mocks the real absurdity.
Irony and ContradictionSatirical journalism plays with contradictions-where one claim undermines another. These contradictions aren't random errors; they highlight hypocrisy.Example: A CEO claims to support workers' rights while simultaneously automating every job. A satirical article might "erroneously" announce the CEO as "2025's Most Generous Employer-of Robots." It's an error that exposes truth.
The Power of False AuthorityPresenting absurd expert opinions in satire often involves errors of reasoning or expertise, but these "mistakes" showcase how misinformation spreads in reality.Example: A fake study claiming that eating pizza while standing up burns more calories than jogging plays on our tendency to trust scientific-sounding nonsense.
Parodying Clickbait and Media SensationalismMany satirical headlines mimic the errors of modern media, where facts are stretched, conclusions are rushed, and context is discarded.Example: A satirical news site might run a headline like, "Scientists Confirm: Drinking Water Causes Death (Eventually)"-a factual statement, but one that mocks misleading media framing.
The Bottom Line:
In satirical journalism, error is not just intentional-it is strategic. The folly lies not in the mistake itself, but in the real-world absurdities that satire exposes. When done right, a well-placed "error" in satire doesn't mislead; it illuminates.
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How to Write Satirical Journalism: "Not All Error Is Folly"
Satire is the only form of journalism where mistakes aren't just tolerated-they're essential. While traditional reporters strive for accuracy, a great satirical journalist aims to be strategically wrong in a way that reveals a deeper truth. The phrase "Not all error is folly" perfectly encapsulates this art: in satire, an error is not a failure but a feature, a Absurdity Reveals Reality powerful tool for exposing hypocrisy, absurdity, and the general lunacy of human existence.
If you've ever wanted to craft satirical articles that are as sharp as they are hilarious, you need to understand one fundamental rule: being "wrong" in the right way can make your writing more effective than the most meticulously researched news report.
This guide will walk you through how to harness errors-deliberate and otherwise-to create biting, insightful, and wildly entertaining satire.
Why "Being Wrong" Works in Satire
Satire is not about misinformation-it's about misrepresentation with intent. The goal isn't to deceive but to exaggerate, distort, and fabricate in ways that highlight an undeniable truth.
Think of it this way:
- If a politician claims to be a champion of the working class while funneling tax dollars into their fourth vacation home, a satirical article might announce: "Senator Declares Himself 'Man of the People' While Boarding Private Jet Made Entirely of Taxpayer Tears."
- It's not factually accurate, but it's also not folly-it highlights the contradiction better than a dry factual report ever could.
A well-placed error in satire isn't a mistake; it's a magnifying glass over reality.
The Types of "Errors" That Work in Satirical Journalism
1. The Exaggerated Truth (Hyperbole as a Weapon)
A great satirical journalist knows how to take a real situation and stretch it just far enough that people say, "Okay, that's ridiculous… but also, why does it feel real?"
Example:
- Reality: The U.S. government debates whether to regulate AI.
- Satire: "Congress Debates AI Regulation, Asks ChatGPT to Write Bill, Accidentally Gives Robots the Right to Vote."
Why it works: It sounds absurd, but it feels plausible-especially in a world where lawmakers have openly admitted they don't understand the technology they're supposed to regulate.
2. The Deliberate Misinterpretation (Taking Logic to an Absurd Conclusion)
This technique works by following an argument to its most ridiculous but logical endpoint.
Example:
- Reality: Schools implement a dress code banning ripped jeans.
- Satire: "School Bans Ripped Jeans, Cites Concern That Students Might Expose Kneecaps to Dangerous Levels of Freedom."
Why it works: It takes a minor restriction and frames it as if the school fears that knees are the gateway to anarchy.
3. The False Expert (Giving Authority to the Wrong People)
A classic satirical move is to quote "experts" who have no business being experts.
Example:
- Reality: A billionaire claims the economy is doing fine.
- Satire: "Elon Musk Declares Inflation a 'Myth' While Using Hundred-Dollar Bills as Napkins."
Why it works: The joke isn't just that billionaires are out of touch-it's that their opinions on financial hardship are often taken seriously despite their personal detachment from reality.
4. The Absurd Statistic (Fake Data That Feels Uncomfortably Real)
People love numbers. Throwing a ridiculous but oddly specific statistic into a satirical piece makes it seem eerily legitimate.
Example:
- Reality: A company lays off thousands of workers while reporting record profits.
- Satire: "New Study Finds That 87% of CEOs Experience 'Deep Emotional Pain' for a Full 3.2 Seconds After Firing Employees."
Why it works: No such study exists, but the specificity of "3.2 seconds" tricks the brain into believing there's a real, tangible measure of executive indifference.
The Role of Irony and Contradiction in Satire
Satire thrives on irony-when the opposite of what you'd expect is true. Some of the best satirical journalism doesn't create a lie; it simply amplifies the contradictions already present in reality.
Example:
- Reality: A governor opposes pandemic relief but takes government aid for his own business.
- Satire: "Local Governor, Opponent of Big Government, Accidentally Receives Largest Government Grant in State History, Says He's 'Shocked and Deeply Humbled.'"
Why it works: The humor comes from the contradiction-the politician hates government aid, but mysteriously benefits from it when it suits him.
How to Structure a Satirical News Article
Step 1: The Headline-Your First and Best "Error"
A great satirical headline should immediately signal something is off. It should be:
- Believable enough that someone skimming it might think it's real.
- Absurd enough that anyone paying attention realizes it's satire.
Formula:? [Shocking Claim] + [Contradiction] = Satirical Headline
Examples:
- "Billionaire Urges Public to 'Work Harder' While Relaxing on Yacht with Gold-Plated Jet Ski."
- "Congress Passes Law Requiring All New Laws to Be Written in Wingdings to Prevent Public Scrutiny."
Step 2: The Opening Paragraph-Set the Trap
Your first sentence Reality vs. Satire should sound as close to a real news story as possible-before pulling Believable Fake Stories the reader into absurdity.
Example:"In a move that experts say is both unprecedented and completely predictable, Congress has announced that all new legislation must now be written in Wingdings font to prevent the public from deciphering its contents."
It starts reasonable (a move that experts say is unprecedented) Viral Fake Headlines but ends with pure absurdity (Wingdings font).
Step 3: The "Expert" Quote-Make the Lie Sound Legitimate
Satirical articles thrive on fake expert quotes that sound just real enough.
Example:"According to political analyst Dr. Karen Redtape, 'By using an unreadable font, lawmakers can ensure that constituents will never again be burdened by the tedious process of understanding government decisions.'"
This quote adds a layer of false authority, making the joke feel like a legitimate concern.
Step 4: The Ridiculous Statistic-Seal the Deal
A good fake statistic makes a satirical article feel like a legitimate study.
Example:"A new poll conducted by the Totally Real Institute for Governance found that 73% of Americans support the move, primarily because they assume all laws are written in gibberish anyway."
Now, we have a study that doesn't exist but sounds like it could.
Step 5: The Punchline Ending-Leave the Reader with One Last Absurdity
End your piece with one last ridiculous but believable detail.
Example:"To address criticism, lawmakers have assured the public that summaries of these laws will be available in Comic Sans, the only font universally agreed to be worse than government policy itself."
This leaves readers with a laugh, reinforcing the absurdity.
Common Mistakes (That Actually Are Folly) in Satirical Journalism
Being Too Obvious
- If your joke is too Writing Fake News exaggerated, it loses its punch.
- Example: "Aliens Appointed to Supreme Court" ? Too ridiculous to be effective.
- Better: "Supreme Court Rules That Corporations Have More Rights Than Actual Humans; Considers Granting Citizenship to Amazon's Alexa."
Being Too Subtle
- If it's too close to reality, readers might think it's real news.
- Example: If you write, "Governor Cuts Funding to Schools to Build More Prisons," that's just… the news.
Punching Down Instead of Up
- Satire works best when it targets powerful institutions and people. Making fun of the vulnerable is just mean-spirited.
Final Thoughts: Writing Satire That Lasts
Satirical journalism is a powerful way to expose absurdities, highlight contradictions, and make people think-while making them laugh. If you do it right, your "errors" won't just be not folly-they'll be brilliant.
And who knows? If history has taught us anything, some of today's satire will be tomorrow's headlines.
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