Spoof News Websites Often Make More Sense Than The Mainstream Media-Don’t Get Caught Out

Fake news tweets Pres. Donald Trump seemingly at any criticism but we should never forget many news outlets do have a political bias.

They are income-based and it is increasingly difficult for members of the press to make money.

Too many established news publications these days post opinion pieces as real news when in fact the news element is tiny and the spin huge.

With headlines tarted up to grab eyeballs and make money the click-bait lede in may be deceptive.

But then there are a growing number of spoof and satirical news ventures online which amuse but can also deceive

Sharing a piece from the Suffolk Gazette, one such U.K. comic news websites, I was surprised how many people fell for the tag line that Britain would no longer allow crosses on Easter Buns in order to be politically correct.

Even after reminded it was not real news, but rather a spoof, one friend was still adamant that it had some truth in it.

The Suffolk Gazette is one of many websites that mixes up real and fictitious news to amuse.

It is designed to be funny but could these sites have a dangerous element?

The U.K. has a long standing love affair with political humour.

From my youth I recall Viz and Private Eye in the U.K. both hard copy publications.

Viz is still on the go but this description online makes me wonder how much it may have changed, or perhaps it is just I have changed with age?

Viz (comics) ... Viz is a popular British comic magazine founded in 1979 by Chris Donald. It parodies British comics of the post-war period, notably The Beano and The Dandy, but with vulgar language, toilet humour, black comedy, surreal humour and generally sexual or violent storylines

Private Eye is more like the real deal

Founded in 1961 Private Eye offers a satirical look at World news.

It has run and won various campaigns and does have a serious side.

A quick look at the latest online copy of Private and the following image has prominent front page placing.

Private Eye launched at a time people in the U.K. were waking up to the failings of the political class.

British television viewers began watching shows like “That Was The Week That Was” and would move on to more hard hitting political laughs when “Spitting Image” hit our screens.

However there was no Internet, social media, photo editing or sophisticated technology enabling easy interference with real news.

Politicians and the Westminster elite were lampooned mercilessly.

Ian Heslop, regular Have I Got News For You panellist, has edited Private Eye since 1986.

It still has a hard copy version as well as a presence online. It’s circulation is or was relatively small compared to the mainstream media. However if you assess Eye for what it is it has a huge circulation.

Unlike most other spoof and satirical news offerings in the U.K. Private Eye has a proud reputation as a source of investigative journalism. Its staff have dug into news stories not covered by the mainstream media. They have managed to break important news stories, usually of failings.

But Private Eye is a different kettle of fish to most other funny news sources in the U.K.

• Suffolk Gazette
• Rochdale Herald
• Daily Mash
• The Onion
• News Thump
• Joe
• The Poke
• News Biscuit
• Jonathan Pie
• Daily Discord

The above list is not exhaustive but includes some of my favorite sources.

Some of the above provide satire, others spoof news and a few even offer investigative journalism.

But such sources in my opinion have a place in journalism and are useful

Some offer made up news but most a satirical spin on real events.

All offer much needed humour especially when times are tough.

As news is sent spinning on its head readers are encouraged to think outside of the box.

I guess it says something when spoof news and satire is mistaken for real news.

We live in such strange times such mistakes are increasingly likely.

No-one wants to get caught out sharing fake news and the same goes for funny news, unless you are sharing as humour and acknowledging that.

Unlike fake news which can me malicious and maliciously shared, spoof news and satire is created and shared in good faith.

Tips

• Check source
• Research source
• The above points include author, publication and if pertinent who has shared
• If the news seems just too ridiculous ask someone else their advice
• Inform yourself. Which news websites are reputable, which humorous and which safe?

As they say knowledge is power.