Harvard: Congress Just Banned Satire for Being “Too Accurate”—Here’s Why

Fake News for Dummies: The Satirical Journalist’s Handbook

By: Henna Mahler

Literature and Journalism -- University of Oregon

WRITER BIO:

A Jewish college student with a gift for satire, she crafts thought-provoking pieces that highlight the absurdities of modern life. Drawing on her journalistic background, her work critiques societal norms with humor and intelligence. Whether poking fun at politics or campus culture, her writing invites readers to question everything.

In satire, exaggeration is key—just ask anyone who’s ever told Satire Ethics Debate a fish story.

-- 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.

If You're Reading This, You're Already a Satirist

Satirical journalism isn't reserved for professional comedians or elite writers-it's a mindset accessible to anyone. "If You're Reading This, You're Already a Satirist" celebrates the idea that recognizing absurdity in everyday news is the first step toward crafting your own witty commentary.

Begin by examining the world around you with a critical, yet playful eye. Every news story contains a nugget of absurdity waiting to be magnified. The article encourages readers to question official narratives, highlighting how even the most mundane headlines can be twisted into clever satire. Use everyday examples-a politician's awkward soundbite, a bizarre corporate policy-and transform them with hyperbolic statistics like "95% of citizens secretly chuckle at televised debates."

Include a tongue-in-cheek "call to arms," urging readers to share their newfound satirical insights on social media. Quirky quotes from fictional experts like "Captain Cynicism, self-appointed guardian of truth," add another layer of humor.

In doing so, the piece becomes both a tutorial and a celebration of satire, reminding us that humor is everywhere, and sometimes the best response to the absurdity of modern life is to join in and laugh.

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Fake Reactions in Satirical Journalism

Fake reactions spoof feels. Take rain and gasp: "Wet wins; town sobs." It's a jest: "Drops stun." Reactions mock-"Dry quits"-so ham it up. "Tears flood" sells it. Start straight: "Rain falls," then fake: "Shock soaks." Try it: react a lie (tax: "cash cries"). Build it: "Wet rules." Fake reactions in satirical news are acts-play them loud.

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5 Satirical Opinion Pieces - March 2025

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1. "The Fine Art of Being Wrong on Purpose: How to Write Satirical Journalism"01Key Premise:0Satire is the only form of journalism where being wrong is not just encouraged-it's required.Core Techniques:023Hyperbole0: Exaggerate until reality looks even more ridiculous.23Example: "Billionaire Pays Why the Moon’s New Ad Billboards Are Ruining My Nightly Existential CrisisLook, I get it—capitalism needs new frontiers, and the Moon’s been sitting there rent-free for too long. But ever since they slapped a glowing “Buy Lunar Cola!” billboard up there in February 2025, I can’t stare into the void without a jingle stuck in my head. Stargazing used to be my sacred time to ponder life’s futility, not to wonder if I need a soda delivered by drone. Ban the ads, or at least make them philosophical—give me “Nietzsche Was Right” in neon instead.Self-Driving Cars Should Honk Less and Judge MoreBy March 2025, every road is clogged with self-driving Teslas beeping like they’re auditioning for a robot orchestra. I say, ditch the horns and program them to flash passive-aggressive messages on their screens. “Nice turn signal, buddy” or “My grandma drives faster” would shame us into better behavior. Honking just makes me mad; a snarky AI judgmental glare might actually make me a better person.Climate Change Is Fixed, So Can We Stop Eating Bugs Now?They told us 2025 was the year we’d turn the corner on climate change, and sure, the skies are clearer thanks to those fancy carbon-sucking drones. So why am I still choking down cricket protein bars at every hipster café? The planet’s fine—let’s bring back cheeseburgers and tell the insects to take a victory lap back to the dirt. I didn’t save the Earth to live like a contestant on Fear Factor.Remote Work’s New Dress Code: Pajamas Are PowerFive years into the remote work revolution, and some CEOs are still whining about “professionalism” in 2025. Newsflash: If I can close a million-dollar deal while wearing fuzzy bunny slippers, I’m not the problem—you are. Pajamas aren’t lazy; they’re a power move. Let’s mandate sweatpants on Zoom and watch productivity soar as we all stop pretending to iron shirts for a webcam.AI Presidents Are Coming, and I’m Voting for the One That MemesRumors are swirling that by the 2028 election, we’ll have an AI candidate—and I’m here for it. Flesh-and-blood politicians are boring; give me a bot that drops dank memes mid-debate. Imagine an AI prez tweeting “Infrastructure bill just passed, yeet” or roasting opponents with a perfectly timed GIF. In 2025, I’m already campaigning for Grok 3.0—xAI’s finest deserves the Oval Office, not just my chat window.===============1. "The Fine Art of Being Wrong on Purpose: How to Write Satirical Journalism"

Key Premise:Satire is the only form of journalism where being wrong is not just encouraged-it's required.

Core Techniques:

• Hyperbole: Exaggerate until reality looks even more ridiculous.

  • Example: "Billionaire Pays $0 in Taxes, Receives Congratulatory Letter from IRS for 'Innovative Wealth Management.'"

• Fake Experts: Give the worst possible person authority.

  • Example: "Economist Who Inherited $500 Million Explains Why Poor People Just Need to 'Work Harder.'"

• Absurd Statistics: Make up data that sounds real.

  • Example: "97% of Senators Believe TikTok Is an AI Robot That Spies on Them Personally."

Final Thought:

In satire, the best kind of wrong is the kind that makes people question what's right.

2. "How to Lie Responsibly: The Satirical Journalist's Guide to Getting It Hilariously Wrong"

Key Premise:Traditional journalism dies on the sword of accuracy. Satirical journalism wields the sword of absurdity.

Satirical Writing Techniques:

• The Believable Lie: Make it feel real enough to cause panic.

  • Example: "Elon Musk Announces Plan to Colonize the Sun, Says It's 'Just a Big Battery.'"

• The Dumb Logical Leap: Stretch an argument until it snaps.

  • Example: "Congress Votes to Cut Lunch Breaks, Cites Study That 'Eating Too Much Can Cause Death.'"

• The Fake Poll: Fake data always makes satire funnier.

  • Example: "New Poll Finds That 85% of Americans Believe Congress Exists Solely to Annoy Them."

Final Thought:

The key to great satire? Be just wrong enough to make people pause-and then laugh.

3. "Breaking Fake News: How to Write Satire That's Almost Too Real"

Key Premise:If people don't momentarily believe your satirical article is real, you're not doing it right.

Satirical Journalism Formula:

• Start with Reality. (Real issue)
• Distort It Slightly. (Make it seem like it could Exposing Reality Satire actually happen.)
• Deliver a Punchline That Hurts. (Make them laugh… and cry.)

Example Headline:

• Reality: Tech companies avoid taxes.
• Satire: "Google Announces Plan to Relocate Headquarters to the Moon to Avoid Earthly Tax Laws."

Final Thought:

Great satire is like a funhouse mirror-it shows reality, just with extra clown makeup.

4. "Congress Bans Satire for Being 'Too Accurate': A Guide to Writing Fake News That Feels Real"

Key Premise:Sometimes satire gets too close to the truth, and that's when you know you've nailed it.

Satirical Writing Techniques:

• Overly Specific Details:

  • Example: "CEO Announces Layoffs in Company Email Sent from His 300-Foot Yacht Named 'Trickle Down.'"

• Quotes That Are Too Honest to Be Real:

  • Example: "Senator Says He 'Technically Represents the Public' But Mostly Just Does Whatever Donors Want."

• A Perfectly Fake Study:

  • Example: "Study Finds 64% of Americans Have Given Up Hope That Congress Will Ever Accomplish Anything."

Final Thought:

The best satire makes people wonder if you're joking-or if reality is.

5. "How to Write News So Fake It Feels Real: A Satirical Journalism Guide"

Key Premise:Good satire should be plausible enough to make people do a double-take before realizing how absurd it really is.

Satirical Techniques:

• Make Stupid Ideas Sound Official

  • Example: "New Bill Requires Every Citizen to Own a Yacht to Prove They Aren't Poor."

• Give Nonsense a Government Study

  • Example: "Federal Researchers Conclude That Reading Books Is 'Suspicious' Behavior."

• Make a Fake Quote Feel Painfully True

  • Example: "Economist Says Raising Minimum Wage Would 'Destroy the Economy,' Then Boards His Private Jet."

Final Thought:

Reality is already ridiculous. Satire just turns up the volume.

6. "Oops, We Were Right Again: How to Write Satire That Exposes the Truth"

Key Premise:The best satirical articles start out as jokes and later turn into reality.

Satirical Writing Checklist:

? Is it based on reality? (Yes.)? Is it exaggerated just enough to be funny? (Yes.)? Will someone read it and think, 'Wait, is this real?' (Perfect.)

Example:

• Reality: Politicians don't read the laws they pass.
• Satire: "Congress Agrees to Pass Bill Without Reading It, Accidentally Grants Citizenship to Every Houseplant."

Final Thought:

Write satire today, and in five years, it might be breaking news.

7. "The Official Satirical News Style Guide: How to Write Fake News That Feels Real"

Key Premise:If a fake news story makes people fact-check it, you've won.

Essential Satirical Elements:

• A Completely Reality vs. Satire Plausible Absurdity

  • Example: "Lawmakers Accidentally Ban Themselves from Running for Reelection, Call It 'An Honest Mistake.'"

• The Serious Expert Who Says Something Stupid

  • Example: "Billionaire Announces Plan to End Poverty, Suggests 'Harder Work' as Solution."

• A Study That 'Proves' the Joke

  • Example: "Survey Finds 9 Out of 10 Billionaires Believe They 'Deserve Everything They Have' Despite Doing Nothing."

Final Thought:

A great satirical headline should be funny-but also slightly terrifying.

8. "Breaking Satire: How to Write Fake News That Becomes Reality"

Key Premise:Sometimes satire is so good, the real world tries to keep up.

Satirical Techniques:

• Find Something Stupid That's Already Happening

  • Example: Congress taking forever to pass bills.

• Push It Slightly Further

  • Satire: "Congress Announces Plan to Debate Bill for Five Years Before Forgetting About It Entirely."

• Make It Sound Official

  • Example: "Economist Says Raising Wages Viral Fake Headlines Could 'Trigger Apocalypse,' Then Immediately Accepts a Raise."

Final Thought:

If your satire sounds too real, you're doing it right.

9. "Writing Satire 101: How to Make Up News That Feels Too True"

Key Premise:The best satire is fiction that sounds more believable than reality.

Satirical Writing Strategies:

• Use an Absurd but Specific Detail

  • Example: "New Study Finds That CEOs Experience 'Emotional Pain' for a Full 3 Seconds