Duffel Blog
 | |
| Type | US military Parody news organization |
|---|---|
| Format | Digital |
| Editor | Paul Szoldra |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Website | duffelblog.com |
The Duffel Blog is an American military news satire organization featuring satirical articles reporting on US military news. It is often described as "the military version of The Onion."[1] It was founded in March 2012 by Marine veteran Paul Szoldra, originally as a way to drive web traffic to his website CollegeVeteran.com.[2] It eventually branched out and became its own entertainment website. The site enjoys a large following among civilians, veterans, and servicemen alike.[3] The blog has more than 150,000 fans on Facebook and about 10,000 Twitter followers.[2][3]
Among their spoof articles are one that suggested a speech by the Commanding General of Fort Benning resulted in a deadly riot, and another that said uncounted military absentee ballots would have resulted in Mitt Romney winning the 2012 US Presidential Election.[4][5] In November 2012, the site launched an online petition to the White House to lift the services’ bans on hands in pockets.[6] Yet another, about Guantanamo detainees getting GI Bill benefits, resulted in a formal inquiry by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.[1] The website counts Marine General James Mattis, the subject of several DuffleBlog posts, as a fan.[7][8]
See also
- List of satirical magazines
- List of satirical news websites
- List of satirical television news programs
References
- 1 2 Ackerman, Spencer (19 February 2013). "Senate Minority Leader Fooled by Report in Military Version of The Onion". Wired.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- 1 2 Douglas Stanglin (2012-08-15). "The Duffel Blog's fake military news hits the spot". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
Szoldra, a 28-year-old college senior, says regular contributors include about 20 volunteer writers described as "disgruntled Marines, annoyed Army guys and sickened sailors."
- 1 2 "Satirical military news site fools some readers". Army Times. 2012-08-14. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
- ↑ "General's Controversial Graduation Speech". Politics | Satire. Snopes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ "Military Absentee Ballots". Politics | Satire. Snopes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ↑ Harkins, Gina (25 November 2012). "Petition asks Obama to OK hands in pockets". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ↑ Harkins, Gina (11 May 2013). "Duffel Blog: Don't get it? He doesn't care | Army Times". armytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ↑ Londono, Ernesto, "Duffel Blog makes fun of military absurdities — and has the Pentagon laughing, too", Washington Post, 8 December 2013; retrieved 9 December 2013.