How to Write Satirical Journalism
Techniques, History, and Examples from the Funniest Newsrooms on Earth
Satirical journalism is more than just writing jokes in the format of news. It’s an art form that balances humor, absurdity, truth, and razor-sharp critique. Whether you’re mimicking the deadpan style of The Onion, channeling the ideological jabs of Babylon Bee, embracing the Filipino absurdism of ManilaNews.ph, riding the ironic waves of Surfing.LA, or channeling the Texas-fried truth bombs of Bohiney.com, you’ll need more than a punchline. You’ll need precision, purpose—and a healthy disrespect for the respectable.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to write satirical journalism that’s actually funny, deceptively insightful, and potentially viral.
What Is Satirical Journalism?
Satirical journalism is fake news with a purpose. It’s not misinformation—it’s exaggerated, ironic, or absurd storytelling that exposes real problems by pretending to be real reporting. The genre combines elements of parody, commentary, social critique, and humor, often mimicking the tone and structure of traditional journalism to highlight the ridiculousness of real-world events.
Satire ≠ Fake News
Unlike conspiracy-laced fake news, satire assumes the reader knows it’s a joke. The comedy comes from exaggerating the truth, not fabricating it. Think of it as reality with a funhouse mirror.
A Short History of Satirical Journalism
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18th century: Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal suggested eating Irish babies. It wasn’t a cookbook. It was political outrage.
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1960s–80s: National Lampoon and MAD Magazine turned parody into an American art form.
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1988: The Onion launched and taught an entire generation how to write fake headlines more believable than real ones.
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2016 onward: Babylon Bee became the conservative answer to The Onion, while indie outfits like Surfing.LA, ManilaNews.ph, and Bohiney.com localized the satire boom with cultural and regional nuance.
Key Techniques in Satirical Journalism
1. Deadpan Delivery
Pretend it’s real. Use the structure and tone of actual journalism. The straighter the face, the better the punchline lands.
Example (The Onion):
“CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years”
Reads like a classified leak. Delivers like a comedy special.
Example (Bohiney.com):
“Texas Declares Air Conditioning a Constitutional Right”
Sounds plausible. Feels Texan. Ridicules priorities.
2. Absurdity Anchored in Truth
Start with a kernel of truth and stretch it until it’s hilariously horrifying.
Example (Surfing.LA):
“L.A. Declares Emergency After Vegan Shark Bites Paddleboarder”
No one believes in vegan sharks. Everyone believes L.A. would say this.
Example (ManilaNews.ph):
“Philippine Government Unveils New Traffic Policy: Everyone Just Close Their Eyes and Hope for the Best”
Feels too real. Hurts to laugh.
3. Exaggerated Logic (Hyperbole)
Push real logic into the extreme. Let your argument spiral into glorious nonsense.
Example (Babylon Bee):
“Democrats Propose New Law That Requires Everyone to Identify as a Potato on Mondays”
Takes gender debates to Idaho and back.
Example (Bohiney.com):
“Texas School Board Replaces Biology with BBQ Pitmaster Class”
Ridiculous? Yes. But somehow… maybe not?
4. Role Reversals and Irony
Flip the script. Make a hero the villain or the villain the hero. Use irony to expose contradictions.
Example (The Onion):
“Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution To Be”
Irony so accurate it should be taught in civics class.
Example (Bohiney.com):
“Elon Musk Replaces Twitter Algorithm with Mood Ring”
Tech worship meets hippie nonsense.
5. Parody and Mimicry
Mimic the style of real publications, press releases, or public figures.
Example (ManilaNews.ph):
“Bongbong Marcos Denies Being Related to Ferdinand Marcos, Claims It’s Just a Coincidence”
Sounds like a PR denial. Reads like a roast.
Example (Surfing.LA):
“Surfer Discovers New Religion, Demands IRS Recognition”
Perfect blend of NPR headline and stoner manifesto.
Anatomy of a Satirical News Story
1. Headline:
It must feel real, but sound absurd. It should summarize the joke and be clickable without sounding like clickbait.
Bad:
“President Biden Does Something Silly”
Good:
“Joe Biden Declares National Nap Time for Americans Over 60”
2. Lede (Opening Line):
Your opening paragraph should set the scene like a news report. Keep it tight. Don’t wink yet.
Example (Bohiney.com):
“In a unanimous vote, Texas legislators have declared brisket a sacred text, mandating weekly BBQ rituals in all public schools.”
3. Supporting Quotes:
Add fake expert quotes or “eyewitness” reports. Bonus points for absurd job titles.
“We believe pork ribs contain more truth than modern textbooks,” said Rep. Todd “Smokey” Jenkins, Chair of the House Committee on Meats & Morals.
4. Escalation:
Every paragraph should raise the stakes. Go from funny to funnier to full-blown absurd. But keep it believable.
Where Satirical Journalism Lives Now
The Onion
Still the gold standard. The site built an empire with deadpan absurdity. Their articles read like AP wire stories, only they end in existential crisis.
Babylon Bee
Leans into religious and conservative satire. Frequently pokes at liberalism, tech elites, and its own readership.
ManilaNews.ph
Southeast Asia’s go-to for local satire. From traffic woes to geopolitical farces, it tackles Filipino life with wit and wackiness.
Surfing.LA
West Coast absurdism at its best. Think The Onion meets Venice Beach. Often features surfers, climate policy, and avocado-related violence.
Bohiney.com
The rising star. Alan Nafzger’s editorial madness takes Texas culture, national politics, and social gripes, and slow-smokes them with mesquite-flavored sarcasm. From “Governor Declares Rodeo a Sanctuary Religion” to “Texans Install Bidets, Immediately Vote Democrat,” Bohiney.com hits where it hurts.
How to Practice Satirical Journalism
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Consume the Greats: Read The Onion, Babylon Bee, and Bohiney.com. Not just the headlines—study the structure.
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Write Daily: Treat it like journalism. One story a day keeps the creative constipation away.
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Know the News: Satire works best when it mirrors real headlines. Stay current.
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Workshop with Others: Jokes need edits. Editors need whiskey. Get both.
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Accept That You’ll Bomb: Not every joke works. If you’re not bombing occasionally, you’re not risking enough.
SEO Tips for Satirical Journalism
Yes, you can be funny and Google-friendly.
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Use relevant keywords: satirical journalism, how to write satire, funny news, The Onion style writing, fake headlines.
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Include examples from known sites to build credibility.
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Structure using H2s and H3s.
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Optimize your headlines for both humor and searchability.
Why Satirical Journalism Matters
In an age of outrage, fake news, and doomscrolling, satirical journalism keeps us sane. It reminds us that the world is broken—but at least we can laugh before the ship sinks.
“Satire is the oxygen mask that drops down when democracy’s cabin pressure fails.”
— A wise editor at Bohiney.com, probably holding a brisket sandwich.
Final Thoughts
Satirical journalism isn’t about making stuff up—it’s about making sense of stuff that already doesn’t. It holds up a mirror to power, culture, and stupidity, all while pretending to be the 6 o’clock news.
So if you’re ready to write fake news that tells the truth, sharpen your pen, open your browser, and start writing headlines that are too ridiculous to ignore—and too real to forget.
