Satire Policy
The facts stay factual. The framing gets funny. When something is fully made up, we say so — loudly.
Three lanes, clearly separated
1. Real Local News. Real local stories — based on official posts, local news reporting, public records, event pages, business announcements, and verified community tips. We never invent facts, quotes, crimes, accusations, or details. The framing can be sharp or skeptical. The facts have to stay factually accurate.
2. Real-Satire. Real, verified events written in our satirical voice. The story, the names, the dates, and what actually happened are real and sourced. We may add obviously-dramatized color — an imagined quote from an unnamed "local resident," a "someone in the group chat," a "guy at the bar" — to give the piece a voice. Those bits are clearly framed as dramatization, never attributed to a real named person, and never used to invent crimes, accusations, or claims about anyone identifiable. If you strip out the jokes and the unnamed-color quotes, you're left with an accurate news brief.
3. The Roar (Fiction). Clearly-labeled fictional satire — obviously fake commentary inspired by local life: traffic, parking, tourism, city meetings, bureaucracy, roadwork, weather, Facebook group drama, development, and local culture. Any quotes inside fictional satire are spoken by fictional characters.
What you'll see on each article
Every article carries one of three disclaimer boxes so you always know which lane you're reading.
Reported by [source name] ↗. THE ROAR REPORT did the framing — the facts come from the source.
Shown on Real Local News articles.
The story is real. The voice is ours — sharp, irreverent, occasionally unhinged. We may add obviously-dramatized color (an imagined quote from an unnamed "local resident," a "guy at the bar") to give the piece voice. Real people are never put in the mouth of anything they didn't say.
Shown on Real-Satire articles.
This is satire. The story is fictional commentary inspired by local life. Do not treat it as reported news.
Shown on The Roar (fully fictional satire) articles.
How satire is labeled
- Long-form fictional satire is tagged THE ROAR · SATIRE in the headline area and on every card.
- Short social-first fictional satire is tagged ROAR SHORT · SATIRE.
- Real-Satire pieces are filed under the Real-Satire category and carry the gold "Real Story, Satirical Voice" disclaimer plus the original source link.
What we will not do
- We do not invent fake damaging claims about real private citizens.
- We do not invent fake damaging claims about real local small businesses.
- We do not invent crimes, accusations, lawsuits, health violations, or fraud.
- We do not name real private citizens in fictional satire.
- We do not punch down at vulnerable people. Satire targets systems and situations.
- In Real-Satire pieces, the story, the names, the dates, and the events are real and sourced. Any dramatized color (e.g. an imagined "local resident" quote) is attributed only to an unnamed, clearly-generic stand-in — never to a real named person — and never used to invent crimes, accusations, or factual claims about identifiable people or businesses.
No intent to mislead
THE ROAR REPORT does not intend to mislead readers. If you believe a piece is mislabeled, inaccurate, or has crossed a line, please get in touch and we will review it.