‘Send nudes’ – York university paper asks students to submit naked photos

Editors at an award-winning student newspaper have apologised after imploring students to send them naked pictures of themselves.

The back page of the latest issue of York Vision, a paper published at the University of York, carried a bold white-on-red headline: ‘Send Nudes’.

And it went on:

• Got nudes? If you want your nudes printed and rated by our team of experts send them to yorkvision.co.uk/SENDNUDES.

  All photos will be anonymised and censored where appropriate.

On the accompanying web page – since deleted – they wrote the pictures were for a “brand new Nude Review…

“Send us your sauciest pics and we’ll publish them alongside a review from our team, comments on what we like, and tips on how to up your game”.

The paper is delivered around the Heslington campus. But soon after this issue was distributed it was recalled after an immediate backlash.

‘Disturbed and disappointed’

York Vision receives funding from York University’s student union.

It published a statement saying its team was “disturbed and disappointed” by the paper’s actions.

“This is not in keeping with the journalistic standards of York student media or YUSU’s values and commitment to creating an inclusive environment for our students,” they wrote.

They made the point that the request could make the website a potential platform for revenge porn. It went on:

• The paper has been published without appropriate sign off and we are looking to establish exactly what has happened as a matter of urgency.

  York Vision seriously needs to reflect on the feedback it has received today and consider their editorial practices for the future.
  

‘Error of judgement’

In response, York Vision editors – winner of the Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year award in 2011, issued an apology, published in another student newspaper, Nouse.

“To advertise a future lighthearted piece, we published what was supposed to be an eye-catching and controversial back page,” they said.

“While the submission point was updated to include guidelines and a policy to ensure welfare, we have since removed the submission point.

“We did not fully appreciate the welfare concerns and we will not be publishing the planned feature.

“The Vision editorial team would like to sincerely apologise for this error of judgement.”