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Jokers or Journalists? A Study of Satirists’ Motivations, Role Orientations, and Understanding of Satire

ABSTRACT This study contributes to recent discussions about the role of satire in public communication. We conducted qualitative expert interviews with 13 satirists in Germany to explore their understanding of satire, their motivations and role orientations as well as their perceptions of satire in relation to journalism and the factors they perceive to influence their role performances. The findings indicate that satirists perceive their business to be multifaceted and diverse and do not strictly distinguish between political satire and apolitical comedy. They identify with the accommodative role of the entertainer and roles connected to the development of public opinion while being reluctant to adopt interventionist roles. Even though professionalization in satire involves acquiring journalistic skills, the interviewees consider themselves to complement rather than substitute journalistic reporting. The findings also indicate strong politicization in satire that results from satirists standing up for their political beliefs. Finally, politicization and normativity in satire are influenced by media organizations and the perception of the political climate. By focusing on the producers of satire, the study extends previous research dominated by studies on satirical content and its effects.