„THE NEWS THAT WASN’T“: A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF NEWS SATIRE HEADLINES FROM NJUZ.NET AND NEWSBAR PORTALS

Beyond the Frontiers: Perspectives on Pragmatic Theory and Practice (2026) [pp. 137-156]  

AUTHOR(S) / AUTOR(I): Virna Karlić
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46793/BeyondFront.137K
ABSTRACT / SAŽETAK:

The paper presents a pragmatic analysis of headlines from two satirical news portals – the Serbian Njuz.net and the Croatian NewsBar. The aim is to identify and describe the linguistic devices and strategies employed in satirical headlines to generate humour while simultaneously conveying implicit criticism of a targeted phenomenon. In the first, theoretical part, the concepts of satire news and news satire are defined and compared, followed by a brief overview of the fictional news genre and of the two satirical portals, both modelled on the well-known American outlet The Onion. After outlining the main features of news headlines, their functions in conventional and satirical news are compared. The next section presents the study’s theoretical framework: a definition of satire and an overview of linguistic satirical techniques, followed by a definition of parody in contrast to satire. In the second, research-oriented part, the methodological framework is outlined, followed by the analysis itself, based on selected examples and aimed at achieving three primary research objectives: (1) to identify and describe the use of different forms of parodic echo in headlines, with reference to specific targets of imitation and ridicule; (2) to illustrate, through examples, the application and functions of various pragma-stylistic means in the service of satire; and (3) to describe the mechanisms of implicit meaning transfer, drawing on Grice’s theory of conversational implicature. The concluding section summarises the findings, which confirm the richness and diversity of satirical and parodic techniques in the analysed headlines.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI:

pragmatics, news satire, headlines, parody, irony, humour, conversational implicature, Njuz.net, NewsBar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

This article was written as part of the institutional research project Social Construction of Abstract Meanings through Reading (Socijalna konstrukcija apstraktnih značenja čitanjem, SKAZ), conducted at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, and funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

REFERENCES / LITERATURA:
Sources
  • Njuz.net: <https://www.njuz.net/>, 16.11.2025.
  • NewsBar: <https://newsbar.hr/>, 16.11.2025.
Examples: original headlines in Serbian (Njuz.net) and Croatian (NewsBar)
  • 1a. David Guetta prekinuo koncert jer mu je pukla žica na laptopu (NewsBar), <https://newsbar. hr/david-guetta-prekinuo-koncert-jer-mu-je-pukla-zica-na-laptopu/>.
  • 1b. Novi slučaj trovanja u Rijeci: Muškarcu (43) nakon čaše mineralne dijagnosticiran prijelom podlaktice (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/novi-slucaj-trovanja-u-rijeci-muskaracu37-nakon-case-mineralne-dijagnosticiran-prijelom-podlaktice/>.
  • 1c. Vučić: Srbija će ostati neutralna povodom razvoda Džonija Depa i Amber Herd (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/vucic-srbija-ce-ostati-neutralna-povodom-razvoda-dzonija-depai-amber-herd/>.
  • 1d. Penzioneri traže razdvajanje predsedničkih i parlamentarnih izbora (Njuz.net), <https://www. njuz.net/penzioneri-traze-razdvajanje-predsednickih-i-parlamentarnih-izbora/>.
  • 2a. STRAVA U DUBROVNIKU: Mali Ivan se nakon pojedene srpske čokolade odaziva isključivo na Jovan (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/strava-u-dubrovniku-mali-ivan-se-nakonpojedene-srpske-cokolade-odaziva-iskljucivo-na-jovan/>.
  • 2b. SKANDAL: Na hercegovačkoj svadbi u Slavoniji nije poslužena janjetina (NewsBar), <https:// newsbar.hr/skandal-na-hercegovackoj-svadbi-u-slavoniji-nije-posluzena-janjetina/>.
  • 2c. ZAPANJUJUĆE: Evo šta se dešava u vašem telu kad prestanete da konzumirate Pink (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/zapanjujuce-evo-sta-se-desava-u-vasem-telu-kad-prestaneteda-konzumirate-pink/>.
  • 2d. NEĆETE VJEROVATI KOLIKO ZUBI IMAJU NATJECATELJI “LJUBAV JE NA SELU”
  • (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/necete-vjerovati-koliko-zubi-imaju-natjecatelji-ljubav-jena-selu-netko-ih-je-sve-pobrojao-odgovor-ce-vas-sokirati/>.
  • 2e. JE LI MOGUĆE DA JE LIDIJA BAČIĆ BILA TAKO RUŽNA BEBA? Dobili smo nevjerojatnu fotografiju koja slama srce (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/li-moguce-da-lidija-bacic-bilaruzna-beba-dobili-smo-nevjerojatnu-fotografiju-koja-slama-srce/>.
  • 2f. POGLEDAJTE: Deset stvari koje Veljko Ražnatović nije dobio za svoj 18. rođendan (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/pogledajte-deset-stvari-koje-veljko-raznatovic-nije-dobio-zasvoj-18-rodendan/9/>.
  • 3a. Kako da odaberete savršen kupaći za svoje odvratno telo (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/ njuz-zena-kako-da-odaberete-savrsen-kupaci-za-svoje-telo/>.
  • 3b. Njuz žena: Pogledajte kako ova holivudska glumica izgleda samo 2 meseca nakon vašeg porođaja (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/njuz-zena-pogledajte-kako-ova-holivudskaglumica-izgleda-samo-2-meseca-nakon-vaseg-porodaja/>.
  • 3c. Bivši muž Goce Tržan i Kebin sin u društvu sestre Nataše Bekvalac i Đokovićevog brata upoznali na slavi najboljeg prijatelja premijerovog brata i Stojketovu bivšu (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/bivsi-muz-goce-trzan-i-kebin-sin-u-drustvu-sestre-natase-bekvalac-i-dokovicevog-brata-upoznali-na-slavi-najboljeg-prijatelja-premijerovog-brata-i-stojketovu-bivsu/>.
  • 4a. Kolinda jutros demantirala demanti u kojem demantira demanti o izjavi da odustaje od ureda (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/kolinda-jutros-demantirala-demanti-u-kojemdemantira-demanti-o-izjavi-da-odustaje-od-ureda/>.
  • 4b. Milanović napao djevojčicu (4) koja mu je rekla da je ‘zjocest’: Ta nepismena balavica koja je drukala… (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/milanovic-napao-djevojcicu-4-koja-mu-jerekla-da-je-zjocest-ta-nepismena-balavica-koja-je-drukala/>.
  • 5a. Pedofil izbačen iz crkve jer mu je usred mise glasno zazvonio mobitel (NewsBar), <https:// newsbar.hr/pedofil-izbacen-iz-crkve-jer-mu-je-usred-mise-glasno-zazvonio-mobitel/>.
  • 5b. HUMANO: Srbija uputila pomoć u oružju Jermeniji i Azerbejdžanu (Njuz.net), <https://www. njuz.net/humano-srbija-uputila-pomoc-u-oruzju-jermeniji-i-azerbejdzanu/>.
  • 5c. Nakon kineskog vlaka koji do Britanije stiže za 3 tjedna, HŽ predstavio vlak kojem od Zagreba do Splita treba samo 40 dana (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/nakon-kineskog-vlaka-dobritanije-stize-3-tjedna-hz-predstavio-vlak-kojem-zagreba-do-splita-40-dana/>.
  • 5d. Islamska zajednica protiv Gay Pridea u Sarajevu: To je neprirodno, brak je zajednica muškarca i žene i žene i žene… (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/islamska-zajednica-protiv-gaypridea-u-srajevu-to-je-neprirodno-brak-je-zajednica-muskarca-i-zene-i-zene-i-zene/>.
  • 5e. SNS upozorio na brojne regularnosti na pojedinim izbornim mestima (Njuz.net), <https:// www.njuz.net/sns-upozorio-na-brojne-regularnosti-na-pojedinim-izbornim-mestima/>.
  • 5f. Koncentracija Šešelja u vazduhu deset puta veća od dozvoljenog nivoa (Njuz.net), <https://www. njuz.net/koncentracija-seselja-u-vazduhu-deset-puta-veca-od-dozvoljenog-nivoa/>.
  • 5g. Hrvatski znanstvenici stvorili umjetnu inteligenciju, ona odmah odselila u Njemačku (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/umjetna-inteligencija-koju-su-nasi-znanstvenici-nedavno- uspjeli-stvoriti-odlucila-odseliti-u-njemacku/>.
  • 5h. ISTRAŽIVANJE SEKSUALNOSTI HRVATA: Najpopularniji pornići su MILF, krempite i neki za koje prvi put čujemo (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/istrazivanje-seksualnosti-hrvatanajpopularniji-pornici-milf-krempite-neke-koje-prvi-put-cujemo/>.
  • 5i. VELIKO OTKRIĆE ARHEOLOGA: Mojsije razbio ploče s Deset zapovijedi jer su bile pisane ćirilicom (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/veliko-otkrice-arheologa-mojsije-razbio-ploces-deset-zapovijedi-jer-su-bile-pisane-cirilicom/>.
  • 5j. Prosječni hrvatski kladioničar pročita godišnje teleteksta kao da je pročitao sabrana Krležina djela (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/prosjecni-hrvatski-kladionicar-procita-godisnjeteleteksta-kao-da-je-procitao-sabrana-krlezina-djela/>.
  • 6a. Sve više Hrvata prelazi na e-cigarete jer im očajnički trebaju pare (NewsBar), <https://newsbar. hr/sve-vise-hrvata-prelazi-na-e-cigarete-jer-im-ocajnicki-trebaju-pare-2/>.
  • 6b. Zagrepčanka dobila koronu iako je čitavo vrijeme nosila masku za lice (NewsBar), <https:// newsbar.hr/zagrepcanka-dobila-koronu-iako-je-citavo-vrijeme-nosila-masku-za-lice/>.
  • 6c. Na Arktiku otkrivena nova životinjska vrsta: Bipolarni medvjed (NewsBar), <https://newsbar. hr/arktiku-otkrivena-nova-zivotinjska-vrsta-bipolarni-medvjed/>.
  • 6d. Karika koja nedostaje: U Krapini pronađena nova vrsta humanoidnih kralježnjaka “vinozemci” (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/znanstvenici-u-zagorju-otkrili-novu-vrstu- jura-iz-krapine-je-prvi-vinozemac/>.
  • 6e. Hrvatica dobila status dobrovoljne darivateljice krvi jer joj svekrva svaki dan pije krv (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/marica-iz-cakovca-trazi-status-dobrovoljne-darivateljice-krvi-jerjoj-svekrva-svaki-dan-pije-krv/>.
  • 6f. Sjeverna Koreja snima obradu filma “Kako je počeo termonuklearni rat na mom otoku” (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/sjeverna-koreja-snima-obradu-filma-poceo-termonuklearni-rat-momotoku/>.Vlada razmatra povratak obaveznog studiranja pre diplomiranja (Njuz.net), <https://www. njuz.net/vlada-razmatra-povratak-obaveznog-studiranja-pre-diplomiranja/>.
  • 8a. Momak upisao salsu da bi naučio da igra salsu (Njuz.net), <https://www.njuz.net/ momak-upisao-salsu-da-bi-naucio-da-igra-salsu/>.
  • 8b. Vremenski šokovi: Nakon snijega u siječnju, meteorolozi najavili sunce u srpnju (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/vremenski-sokovi-nakon-snijega-sijecnju-meteorolozi-najavilisunce-srpnju/>.
  • Hrvat pokrenuo sudski spor i za života dočekao pravomoćnu presudu (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/hrvat-pokrenuo-sudski-spor-i-za-zivota-docekao-pravomocnu-presudu/>.
  • HOROR KOD ŠIBENIKA: Mladenci proslavili vjenčanje spaljivanjem mrtvih svinja (NewsBar), <https://newsbar.hr/horor-kod-sibenika-mladenci-proslavili-vjencanje-spaljivanjem-mrtvih-svinja/>.
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