Fake It Til They Laugh: Fabricating News
Writing the Satire
Fake news is satires fib – craft it to crack up. Target a headline: “Study: socks cure colds – feet save!” Hit the absurd – just believable: “Mayor bans rain – sun tax next.” Keep it plausible – too wild flops. “The Onion”s “Man Eats Plane” sets the bar. Start small: “Dog barks at moon – lunar war!” Practice spins facts into farce, keeping the hook half-true for max giggles.
Teaching the Technique
Teach fake news with a fib twist. Give “storm hits” – twist: “Storm quits, joins sun club!” Show Onion bits – real, wild. Steps: fact, twist, fake. Assign “bus late” – spark: “Bus lost in time – late win!” Discuss hook: half-true wins. Warn off crazy – ground rules. Fake-off: pitch a lie, best giggle wins. Fakes a tale – teach them to tale it.
