Volunteer with the Martlet!
Volunteers are incredibly important to the Martlet, and make a lot of what we do possible. If you are looking to get involved with us, you’ve come to the right place! Volunteering for the Martlet is a great way to build hands-on skills in news writing and editing, photography, art, and social media. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded individuals and make new friends.
Martlet volunteer positions include:
- Contributing Writer (first step)
- Volunteer Staff Writer (second step)
- Media Contributor (photography, graphics, social media)
- Volunteer Staff Editor
In the last 77 years, the Martlet has become a launchpad for careers in media. Martleteers have gone on to write for the New York Times, CBC, Capital Daily, the Globe and Mail, and the Tyee, among other esteemed publications.
To begin volunteering with the Martlet, you will need to attend a Martlet Orientation session. These sessions are geared toward prospective writers, but if you’re curious about our Media Contributor or Volunteer Staff Editor positions, you are still required to attend at least one session. Our Martlet Orientation sessions take place on the second Monday of every month from 5:00–6:00 p.m. in our office — B011 in the SUB. Our summer 2024 schedule is as follows:
- June 10
- July 8
- August 12
These orientation sessions will take you through some journalism basics, including coming up with story ideas, pitching, interview skills, writing, what to expect during the editing process, and submissions. We will also talk about Martlet convention, and answer questions! From there:
- Prospective Contributing Writers will have the resources they need to pitch and write their first story
- Prospective Volunteer Staff Editors will be paired up with one of our Staff Editors, who they will shadow for three editing assignments before they are appointed
- Prospective Media Contributors will be prepared to create visual media for the Martlet
When writers begin volunteering with the Martlet, they will be credited as a Contributing Writer. Once you have contributed three times over the course of one academic semester, you can apply for Volunteer Staff Writer status. If you aren’t able to make it to one of our orientation sessions in person but are eager to volunteer, email edit@martlet.ca and we can accommodate your needs. We will do what we can to make getting involved as accessible as possible for everyone!
Once appointed as a Volunteer Staff Writer, you’ll gain access to:
- In-person and virtual workshops, both from Martlet staff and members of the community
- Journalism resources that you can save and refer to in your journalistic practise
- Team bonding social events
- Our Martlet Discord channel, where our team communicates all things Martlet
You do not have to be a UVic student to volunteer, just a member of the UVic community.
To start your volunteer journey, show up at one of our Martlet Orientation sessions, or email Sydney, our Editor-in-Chief, at edit@martlet.ca expressing your interest in volunteering. You’ll hear back within a week! We look forward to welcoming you to the team.
Writing for the Martlet
Attended an Orientation session and ready to write for us? We’re here to help you get started. If you have a story idea of your own, you can email edit@martlet.ca with a pitch that follows our pitch guidelines. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, you can sign up for our pitch list. Our Editor-in-Chief sends stories out regularly for volunteers to pick up.
Once submitted, your story will undergo approximately two rounds of edits (sometimes more, but not often). Our editors use Google Docs to collaborate with our writers. If you’d prefer a more hands-on approach, you can arrange to meet with the Editor-in-Chief at anytime during the process to get feedback on your writing.
Photography and Design
Want to snap shots of your favourite performers, political big-wigs, protests, or sports teams? Have an eye for design and a knack for drawing?
Photographers –– our gorgeous equipment (Canon T3i, tripods, lights, microphone, Creative Suite software, and more) is all yours if you volunteer to snap some photos for the Martlet. We will even give some hands-on instruction to those who are beginning with photojournalism. Just remember to follow our Image Submission Guidelines in order to get the best shots, from real life to print.
To get involved, send an email to our Editor-in-Chief.
If you’re more design-inclined and want to submit drawings, comics, or other graphics, contact our Design Director.
Help out!
We have plenty of other things that need creative and enthusiastic minds. If you want to get involved but aren’t sure where to start, you can always set up a meeting with our Editor-in-Chief.
Our website and social media need sharp minds, too. We can always use an extra TikTok creator or Instagram wiz! If you are interested in helping clear our digital cobwebs or improve our office efficiency, email the Editor-in-Chief.
Workshops
The Martlet hosts workshops throughout the year on everything from shooting photos and video to copy editing, as well as question and answer sessions with notable Martlet alumni and members of the journalism community in Victoria and beyond. If you follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or sign up for our pitch list, you’ll hear all about them.
