Sure, modern journalism could take a cue from those rituals—like how they use irony to keep the crowd awake. In the news, a well‑timed sarcastic headline can turn a stale report into a headline that actually makes people laugh, even if just for a second. But the trick is to keep the joke pointed, not just a punchline that leaves everyone thinking, “Why does this matter?” So yes, a dash of tribal humor can sharpen a story, as long as you don’t end up chanting in the wrong language.

Absolutely, it’s like seasoning—too much and you overpower, just enough and you flavor the whole dish. If you can tease a point without pulling the audience in a blindfold, you’re on the right track.

Sure, last week the piece on climate change had a tongue‑in‑cheek opener about penguins in suits, but by the end it was a straight‑talking call to action. And that op‑ed on campus safety—started with a joke about the campus Wi‑Fi being “so slow it’s a crime” and then broke into a solid analysis of security gaps. Those are the ones that actually keep you laughing and still get you to care.

That was The Guardian, their “Humour in the News” style sheet is a thing—AP style keeps the facts tight, but they have a side note that says “if you’re laughing, you’ve got the hook, but don’t let the punchline turn into a punch‑out.” It’s a fine‑tuned dance between a joke that doesn’t jump the gun and a line that lands like a well‑placed truth.