I’ve written before about some of the cock ups of the US news networks when it comes to affairs outside their shores. Recent notable examples were when CNN thought Townsville was the capital of Queensland (its Brisbane), after they realised that Queensland wasn’t actually in Tasmania.
And Fox News once thought that Egypt was actually where Iraq should be.
With the score 2-1 to CNN, Fox News was not to be outdone on the #graphicsfail front. They recently came out with this little gem, a monumental Fox News cockup that has levelled the score 2-all.
This graphic is supposed to show the nuclear power plants in Japan – except that it doesn’t. Look very carefully and you’ll see one called “Shibuyaeggman”:

Now, I’ve been to Japan and have actually lived there (a total of about three years between the 1980′s and 90′s). I’ve travelled to Tokyo more times that I care to remember, and I’ve been to the trendy Shibuya district in the city’s south western quarter. In fact, here’s a shot of my hubby Andy standing at the famous “Shibuya Scramble Crossing” outside the mainline station:
I never actually saw a nuclear power plant in Shibuya, or anywhere near Tokyo for that matter. So what could Fox actually be referring to?
As it turns out, Shibuyaeggman is actually a nightclub.
Not a nuclear power plant.
The website for the club is HERE.
How on earth they made this cock-up is simply beyond me. I suspect it was a joke that slipped through, but with Fox you can never be sure.
But seriously, guys, you don’t need to understand Japanese to be a LITTLE suspect about the name. ShibuyaEGGMAN? Come on. Seriously?
I await the usual flaming from the rabid right-wing US nutters who for some reason seem to read this blog telling me that I must have made this up, it’s all a liberal conspiracy, and Fox News can do no wrong.
You can read the story as reported on Business Insider HERE. Make up your own mind.
If you have one, that is.





Another US news network #geographyfail: now CNN says Townsville is the capital of Queensland!
5 02 2011We all know now that Fox news can’t find Egypt on a map (click here to see that doosie!) but it seems that CNN has outdone their earlier effort to beat Fox as the “dumbest US News Network”.
Not content with putting Queensland where Tasmania ought to be (click HERE for that post), CNN just seems to get even more confused – or lazy – about foreign geography.
This time, no one can accuse me (or anyone else) of “doctoring” any map using Photoshop to paint US news networks as downright ignorant and just plain stupid. This one is exactly as published – on CNN!
In an article HERE, CNN says:
“Yasi is expected hit overnight Wednesday, according to The Australian, and will come ashore between Innisfail and Proserpine, directly hitting Queensland’s capital, Townsville.”
Come again? Last time I looked, the capital of Queensland was Brisbane!
Dumb US news network score so far: Fox 1 – CNN 2
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