The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
50°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

The Vox Box

  1. Blogs
  2. The Vox Box
  3. High school students sue over story about their sex lives

High school students sue over story about their sex lives

This story is from today's Seattle P-I...

By PAUL SHUKOVSKY/P-I REPORTER

Four Puyallup high school students whose sex lives were detailed in a student newspaper sued the school district Wednesday, saying the publication invaded their privacy and exposed them to severe sexual harassment, humiliation and embarrassment.

The story in February by the Emerald Ridge High School newspaper, the JagWire, emerged from a supposedly anonymous sex survey conducted by journalism students, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Tacoma by the Connelly Law Offices of Tacoma. The student reporters asked others on campus "if they had engaged in sex or if they had performed oral sex, and, if so, under what circumstances," the suit says.

The story identified the four students by name as examples drawn from 600 Emerald Ridge students surveyed. Elements of their sexual history were detailed. One was quoted about her experience with oral sex. "I was 15. I was horny. It wasn't really a relationship at that point."

The plaintiffs say they were harassed: Called "whores" and "sluts" and were embarrassed after the article came out.

I'm guessing from the article (linked above) that the Jagwire student reporters are claiming the plaintiffs knew they were on the record and that their names would be used.

QUESTION: I realize we don't have all the facts here, but what are you thinking? If you are in my class, make me proud about what we discussed about taking special care when reporting stuff like this...

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.