SATIRE
These sources exclusively use humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Primarily these sources are transparent that they are satire and do not attempt to deceive. See all Satire sources.
- Overall, we rate Weekly World News a left-leaning satire website based on making it clear they are meant to be humorous and not taken seriously.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT SATIRE
Factual Reporting: N/A
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: N/A
History
Founded as a print publication in 1979, the Weekly World News was a sensational/satirical tabloid that ceased print publication in 2007. Weekly World News re-emerged as an online publication in 2009, continuing its tradition of publishing outrageous, fake, or satirical news stories.
According to their about page, “Weekly World News has published 100,000+ articles and discovered over 300+ unusual beings living amongst us. Each day our crack Potenza Prize-Winning Reporters uncover more stories the mainstream media ignores. Weekly World News is the authority on aliens, mutants, conspiracy theories, biblical prophecies, health cures, and wayward politicians.”
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Spycat LLC owns and publishes the Weekly World News. Advertising and an online shop that sells merchandise generate revenue.
Analysis / Bias
Weekly World News publishes a combination of strange (real) news stories and utterly fake news. The publication intends to be sensational and humorous. A sample headline reads U.S. PLANNING ARMY OF BAT BOY CLONES!
When covering politics/politicians, they cover both sides, such as this ASS BACKWARDS MAN SUPPORTS TRUMP and this making fun of President Biden PRESIDENT BIDEN SALUTES ABE LINCOLNS GHOST. However, you can find more attacking former President Trump, indicating a left-leaning bias.
Although Weekly World News does not state that they are a satire site, they make it clear on its about page that they are not to be taken seriously with this “Weekly World News is the only publication in the world to cover the exploits of Bat Boy, Manigator, The Lake Erie Monster, Ph.D. Ape, P’Lod the Alien, Itty Bitty Elephants, Bigfoot Hooker, and many other beings that the mainstream media refuses to cover.”
In general, Weekly World News is a satire site that publishes a mix of sensational/humorous articles and outright made-up news.
Overall, we rate Weekly World News a left-leaning satire website based on making it clear they are meant to be humorous and not taken seriously. (D. Van Zandt 08/17/2022)
Source: https://weeklyworldnews.com/
Last Updated on July 1, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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