Code of Ethics
I. Platform BIPOC Voices
The Hampshire Leapfrog will platform BIPOC voices and highlight the concerns and interests of BIPOC students at Hampshire College.
II. Protect Students
The Hampshire Leapfrog’s first responsibility is to its community. Leapfrog will report in a manner that protects vulnerable students and avoids undermining positive student movements.
III. Editorial Responsibility
The Hampshire Leapfrog will not publish any material that is damaging to the campus community. This includes material that is racist, queerphobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, antisemitic, etc.
IV. Accountability and Corrections
The Hampshire Leapfrog will be accountable to its community, and address criticism promptly. In the event of an inaccuracy in a published story, no matter how small or insignificant, Leapfrog will issue a correction in the following issue.
V. Clarity
All news articles will be clearly marked as such, and all editorial pieces, which express opinion, will be clearly marked as such. All advertisements will be clearly marked.
VI. Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure
The Hampshire Leapfrog will disclose any conflicts of interest in its reporting.
VII. Content Warnings
The Hampshire Leapfrog will print content warnings at the top of articles that deal with sensitive subjects.
VIII. Journalistic Transparency
The Hampshire Leapfrog will publish all content under the name the author uses on campus. Leapfrog will identify its sources, unless revealing the source would endanger the source or otherwise violate these ethical guidelines.
IX. Financial Transparency
The Hampshire Leapfrog will regularly publish its expenditures and funding.
(The Hampshire Leapfrog Code of Ethics, last updated 9/5/2025)
Plagiarism & Fabrication Policy
The Hampshire Leapfrog does not permit plagiarism or fabrication in any of its published material, whether from staff or other contributors.
If plagiarism or fabrication is found to have occurred, the relevant material will be corrected or retracted immediately and the party responsible for the plagiarism or fabrication may be barred from contributing to The Hampshire Leapfrog in the future.
Contributors should take care to appropriately cite all sources, not just to the extent required for compliance, but going above and beyond in the spirit of creative honesty and collaboration.
(The Hampshire Leapfrog Plagiarism & Fabrication Policy, last updated 9/5/2025)
Generative AI Policy
Because of the numerous concerns surrounding generative AI, including but not limited to: plagiarism, inaccuracy, environmental impacts, privacy and civil liberties, and the general degradation of the human spirit, The Hampshire Leapfrog does not permit the use of generative AI in the production of any material published in The Hampshire Leapfrog.
Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case by case basis for work specifically concerning the use of generative AI, provided that its use is appropriately acknowledged in the material.
(The Hampshire Leapfrog Generative AI Policy, last updated 8/5/2025)
Conflict of Interest Policy
All staff and other writers and contributors, as well as Leapfrog leadership upstream of a piece of published material are expected to disclose any relevant conflicts of interest for the piece, including but not limited to:
- Involvement in the events of the story.
- Membership or leadership in any clubs, student organizations, and student movements relevant to the story, both recognized by the College and not.
- Significant personal relationships with sources, stakeholders, and individuals involved in the events of the story.
- Employment at any college department relevant to the story.
Conflict of interest disclosures shall be placed at the bottom of published material, both online and in print. Any errors or omissions in disclosures shall be corrected as soon as possible.
(The Hampshire Leapfrog Conflict of Interest Policy, last updated 8/5/2025)
Content Review Policy
Prior to publication, every piece of material will be reviewed by at least three people who did not have a part in its creation, with an eye to ensure the piece adheres to Leapfrog’s policies. A log of people who signed off on each piece of material shall be placed at the bottom of material published online, and in a supplemental document for print.
(The Hampshire Leapfrog Content Review Policy, last updated 8/5/2025)