In the past, the media used to spin incredible stories on April 1st. Things, however, have changed in recent years due to the systematic spread of fake news
When did April Fool’s jokes start and why? There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer. It is said that when in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII decided to switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar he moved the start of the new year to January 1st. Those who celebrated the new year on April 1 were laughed at and the target of playful comments.
A lot has changed in recent years. Many jokes go viral across the globe on social media within just a few hours. It has happened many times that humorous news stories are adopted by news websites or even make global headlines. This “misinformation” without malice may damage the reputation of the media, which by mistake or due to time pressure proceed to publication without doing the necessary checks as they should do.
Pluto became… a planet again
For example: The online platform Futurism.com published an article on April Fool’s Day 2017 titled “Pluto Officially Reclassified as a Planet” adding that the International Astronomical Union changed its status. It should be noted that Pluto has been classified as a dwarf planet and not a planet since August 2006. Even though it was an April Fool’s joke, the “news” was picked up by websites without any rudimentary verification. When the publishing house Collins dictionary declared the word “Fake News” word of the year in 2017, various newspapers around the world decided to stop publishing April Fools’ jokes fearing for their prestige and credibility with the public opinion.
Magnus Carlsson, editor-in-chief of the Swedish newspaper Smalandsposten, explained on the newspaper’s website: “We work with real news, even on April 1.” In recent years even Google, which used to publish various jokes, has turned its back on April Fool’s jokes. A turning point for April Fool’s jokes is also considered the pandemic year 2020, when after the detection of the coronavirus, misinformation became a daily phenomenon.
Favorite April Fool’s Jokes
But we, continuing and honoring the beautiful tradition of the April Fool’s joke, quote some of those that made headlines in their time:
1977: Where do they go to San Serriffe Island?
On April 1, the British Guardian published an article on the occasion of the 10th independence day of the tropical island of San Serriffe, a small paradise on earth near the Seychelles. The seven-page report was accompanied by a map of the archipelago, showing villages, ports and regions whose names were essentially puns.
1993: For breeding purposes
On April Fool’s Day 1993 the West German Radio WDR reported on a decision by the municipality of Cologne which prohibited joggers in the city’s parks from running more than 10 kilometers per hour in order not to disturb the squirrels during the mating season.
2009: Rage for fake pandas
The Taipei Times newspaper wrote on April 1, 2009: “Relations between Taiwan and China suffered a serious blow yesterday when it emerged that the panda bears at the Taipei Zoo are not what they seem.”
2016: No Nude Please
In 2016, National Geographic, world famous for its nature documentaries, announced on Twitter that it would no longer publish photos of nude animals.
Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
