What Topics and Sections Does Martlet Cover?

Martlet is the University of Victoria's independent student newspaper, and its coverage splits into five main content areas: News, Opinions, Features, Culture, and Campus. If you're trying to decide whether it's worth reading, the short answer is that it covers local Victoria and Saanich politics, student life, arts and culture, and commentary — with a lighter humour section mixed in. Below is what each section actually contains, based on the paper's own published stories.

News and local politics

This is where Martlet does the most reporting on issues that affect students and Victoria residents directly. Recent coverage includes:

• Municipal and provincial elections — a student's guide to the year's municipal and provincial elections
• Saanich council races — profiles of candidates, such as a current nursing student running for Saanich council
• Electoral reform organizing — reporting on "Break The Slate" and its origins going back to 2018
• Amalgamation questions — explaining that a Victoria–Saanich amalgamation ballot question is non-binding and only gathers public opinion

If you follow local government, campus-adjacent politics, or civic issues in the Victoria area, this section is the core of what Martlet publishes.

Opinions and columns

The Opinions section carries op-eds and recurring columns, often arguing that local politics deserves attention even from readers who can't vote. One recurring column, "Unsettled," covers Indigenous issues and Canadian politics. This section is commentary rather than reporting, so treat it as argument and perspective, not neutral news.

Culture, arts, and events

Culture coverage spans theatre, film, and performing arts:

• Theatre reviews and previews, such as '45 Years in Orbit', a show structured around two aliens visiting play rehearsals at William Head
• Film events, including the Annual Latin American & Spanish Film Week
• Experimental performance, like 'Once Upon a Dreadful Night', which mixes improv and actual play

There's also lifestyle-adjacent opinion writing, such as a piece on being more sustainable in the fall and avoiding overconsumption.

Campus, Features, and Humour

The remaining sections round out the paper:

Other things on the site

Beyond articles, Martlet's navigation includes About, Advertising, Awards, a Digital Archive, Jobs, a pitch form for story ideas, a podcast (The Nest), and a volunteer page. There's also a newsletter signup at martlet.ca/subscribe — note that the site lists a "Subscribe to Newsletter" link, but no pricing details are given, so don't assume it's free without checking.

Bottom line: read Martlet if you want UVic student journalism with a strong local-politics focus, arts and culture reviews, and opinion writing. If you're only after national or international news, this isn't the source for that.