Code of Ethics

By Chris Hutton

As a solo journalist covering the tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) industry, I strive to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and integrity in everything I publish. My goal is to deliver professional-grade, fair, and accountable journalism, even as an independent creator.

That said, I’m human—and I may make mistakes. That’s why I believe it’s important to be open about my standards so that readers can understand how I approach my work and judge my reporting accordingly.

The principles outlined below are based on the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics and informed by resources from the Online News Association.

Core Values

1. Transparency

  • I am a one-person operation and a white, male reporter. My identity and background inevitably shape my perspective, including how I approach stories or evaluate products.

  • I commit to acknowledging when those perspectives influence my reporting, particularly in opinion pieces or subjective assessments.

2. Accuracy & Fairness

  • I strive to report facts objectively and responsibly, and I will not distort or manipulate information to serve a personal narrative.

  • When factual reporting is required, I commit to:

    • Providing appropriate context (e.g., a creator’s history or relevant controversies).

    • Seeking diverse voices and perspectives, especially from underrepresented communities.

    • Offering balanced coverage in stories involving disagreement or conflict, allowing all relevant parties to respond.

    • Identify sources clearly and distinguish between opinion and verified fact.

    • Correcting errors promptly and transparently when they are discovered.

3. Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest

  • I will disclose any conflicts of interest, including:

    • Past employment or affiliations relevant to a story.

    • Any paid work with competing organizations.

    • Situations where a company or individual I am reporting on has given me free products, meals, or travel assistance.

  • I will not report on organizations I am employed by, nor accept money in exchange for undisclosed coverage.

  • Paid advertising will always be clearly labeled and will not influence editorial decisions.

4. Review Practices

  • Like many journalists in the TTRPG industry, I may receive free copies of products for review or coverage.

  • I will disclose this clearly in the article or video when this occurs.

  • Receipt of a free product does not guarantee positive coverage or any coverage at all.

  • Minor benefits (e.g., a coffee during an interview) generally won't be disclosed unless they could reasonably affect perception. Significant benefits (e.g., paid travel or lodging) will always be noted.

Professional Conduct

  • Plagiarism and copyright infringement will never be tolerated. All images used will either:

    • Come from press kits, or

    • Be used in accordance with Creative Commons, public domain, or other permissible usage rights.

  • If an image owner requests removal, they can contact me via email or social media, and I will review the request in good faith.

  • I honor off-the-record and background agreements with sources and take their terms seriously.

  • I pledge to use AI-generated content in my writing or image production.

    • I do use transcription tools like Otter and Grain, which employ AI features to assist with outlining and transcription.

    • Grammarly is also often used to help myself improve my clarity, at least for the time until I am able to hire a reporter to review my writing.

    • My web hosting platform, Beehiiv, also contains built-in AI tools which may support backend content workflows.

Our Stance on AI in the Industry

We recognize that AI tools—particularly for art and game design—are becoming more prominent in the TTRPG space. However, at this time:

We do not endorse the use of AI-generated art in commercial products due to concerns about:

  • Copyright and intellectual property infringement,

  • The environmental costs of large-scale AI models,

  • And the impact on human artists and creators.

Nonetheless, we believe this is an important and evolving issue within the industry, and we will continue to cover it critically and thoughtfully.

Final Word

I welcome accountability. Please reach out if you believe I’ve missed something, misrepresented an issue, or failed to meet these standards. My inbox is open, and I strive to respond in good faith. This work is rooted in community—and community means conversation, correction, and constant learning.