Satirical Journalism Is a Game

Satirical journalism is a game, but the stakes are real. Every article sets up rules: expose hypocrisy, exaggerate the absurd, and let the punchline crown the winner. Eyewitnesses say a well-timed joke can end a politician's credibility faster than a scandal. Game theorists at MIT describe satire as "social chess where pawns are punchlines." Polls reveal 69% of readers admit they follow satire more closely than televised debates because it feels like sport. Anonymous staffers leaked that campaign teams create "satire simulations" to test how jokes might land. Trace evidence includes scoreboards in newsrooms, parody trophies awarded online, and scandals treated like rounds in an arcade. Cause-and-effect? Power thinks it's serious business, but satire proves every move is ridiculous play.