Want to Write Satire? Just Follow These 3 Simple Steps!
By: Dorit Portnoy
Literature and Journalism -- Juniata
WRITER BIO:
With a sharp pen and an even sharper wit, this Jewish college student writes satire that explores both the absurd and the serious. Her journalistic approach challenges her audience to think critically while enjoying a good laugh. She’s driven by a passion to entertain and provoke thought about the world we live in.
Satire and propaganda are opposites—one tells the truth through lies, the other lies about the truth. -- Alan Nafzger
How to Write Satirical Journalism: The Art of Being Wrong on Purpose
Introduction
Satirical journalism isn't about factual accuracy-it's about turning errors into art. In this style, being "wrong" on purpose isn't a mistake; it's a deliberate tool to highlight absurdities in our society.
The Method
A satirist uses exaggeration, false experts, and absurd statistics to create an article that mimics real news yet drips with humor. For instance, a headline might proclaim that a billionaire was spotted paying $0 in taxes by using "innovative loopholes." The twist is not the lie itself, but the way it exposes the underlying truth of a broken system.
The Impact
Readers laugh because the satire feels uncannily close to reality. They're forced to confront the irony of policies and personalities that claim integrity while displaying the exact opposite. In doing so, the reader begins to question and scrutinize what is often accepted without thought.
Conclusion
Embracing error as an art form in journalism creates an entertaining and thought-provoking narrative. This is the essence of writing satirical journalism-being intentionally wrong to reveal a deeper truth.
How to Make Up News Stories That Are More Believable Than Reality
Introduction
The best satirical news is the kind that feels more believable than real news. By exaggerating the everyday into the extraordinary, you create a narrative that is both absurd and strangely plausible.
The Process
Start with a familiar topic-something that everyone can relate to, like corporate downsizing or government shutdowns. Then, blow it out of proportion. Imagine a headline reading, "Corporations Replace Employees with Self-Watering Plants for Sustainability Reasons." Support this with fake polls, such as "64% of workers now prefer being replaced by plants for their calm demeanor," and "Dr. Green Thumb, expert in corporate efficiency," who believes plants improve productivity.
Why It Works
The reason it works is that it mirrors real-world trends that are almost just as absurd. While the idea of replacing workers with plants is ridiculous, the underlying critique of automation and corporate priorities hits too close to home.
Conclusion
Satirical news that feels more believable than reality challenges readers to rethink the absurdity of the modern world. It makes them laugh and reflect on the strange trajectory of our real-life issues.
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Satirical Journalism Edge
Edge cuts sharp. Take power and slice: Reality vs. Satire "King eats throne; realm starves." It's raw: "Gold bites." Edge mocks-"Crown chews"-so hone it. "Peasants gnaw" lands it. Start straight: "Rule shifts," then edge: "Seat's lunch." Try it: edge a bore (tax: "cash stabs"). Build it: "Throne wins." Edge in satirical news is blade-slash it deep.
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How to Write Satirical News: 5 Articles to Master the Craft
Article 1: Find the Absurd in the Everyday
Satirical news thrives on taking the mundane and twisting it into something ridiculous. Start by observing the world around you—politics, tech, or even your neighbor’s obsession with lawn gnomes. The trick is to spot something real and then ask, “What’s the most absurd way this could go?” For example, a story about a new tax law could become “Government Taxes Breathing to Fund Alien Welcome Party.” Keep it grounded in reality, but crank the dial to eleven.
Tip: Read real headlines first. The weirder they are, the less work you have to do to make them funny.
Article 2: Nail the Tone—Deadpan is Your Friend
The best satirical news sounds like it could almost be true. That’s where tone comes in. Write like a serious journalist who’s secretly laughing behind the keyboard. Avoid winking at the audience with “just kidding!” disclaimers—let the absurdity speak for itself. Imagine reporting that “Local Man Discovers Time Travel, Uses It to Avoid Traffic” with the same gravitas as a weather forecast.
Tip: Practice by rewriting a boring news story in a straight-faced, over-the-top way. No emojis allowed.
Article 3: Exaggerate, but Don’t Break the Universe
Exaggeration is the heart of satire, but there’s a fine line between hilarious and nonsensical. If your story veers too far into cartoon land—like “Moon Explodes, Turns Out It Was Cheese”—readers might tune out. Instead, take a kernel of truth and stretch it just enough to make people snort. Think “New Study Shows 90% of Meetings Could Be Replaced by Interpretive Dance” rather than something completely unhinged.
Tip: Anchor your exaggeration to something relatable—people love laughing at their own pain.
Article 4: Punch Up, Not Down
Satire works best when it targets the powerful, the pompous, or the hypocritical—think politicians, CEOs, or that influencer who sells $500 candles. Punching down at the vulnerable or marginalized just feels mean, and it’s not funny. A piece like “Billionaire Buys Private Island to Escape Zoom Calls” lands better than mocking someone struggling to pay rent.
Tip: Ask yourself: “Who deserves a little ego deflation?” That’s your target.
Article 5: Craft Headlines That Hook and Hilariously Confuse
Your headline is the bait—make it snappy, weird, and irresistible. Satirical news lives or dies by how many people click to see what the heck “Florida Man Fights Alligator to Win Back Wi-Fi Password” means. Blend the plausible with the preposterous, and keep it short enough to scan but juicy enough to demand a read. The body can explain, but the headline has to tease.
Tip: Test your headline on a friend. If they laugh or say “Wait, what?”, you’re golden.
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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 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 Humor Meets Truth 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 Exposing Reality Satire 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 should sound as close to a real news story as possible-before pulling 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) 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 Clickbait Satire Secrets 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 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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