A very short history

By Patrick Varence

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been asked what Arcas stands for. 

Maybe I should’ve chosen a better name, but it’s a bit late, hey?

In Greek mythology, Arcas was the king of Arcadia. He’s not very well-known, but he was a hunter that spread agriculture. 

Not only did he hunt, but he taught people how to grow their own food.

As journalists, it’s our job to find stories worth telling, and it’s our job to give people the means to think for themselves.

Voilà: Arcas Magazine.

Name aside, the concept for this has been a long time coming. 

It started in 2024 when I took up journalism. I went to a lot of events, talked to a lot of people, and basically grabbed any opportunity I could to learn journalism. I threw myself into the deep end with a recorder and notepad, and I took my time to learn what interested me.

After doing this for a while, I noticed a few things about myself.

I gravitated toward interviewing working professionals and hobbyists that had interesting insights into the fields they lived in. Gaming, coffee, fitness, business… A lot of industries and cultures are veiled, and certain aspects simply aren’t openly discussed.

Did you know that growing plants near coffee affects its flavour? Or that on Fridays, every card shop in Melbourne transforms into a packed underground Magic: The Gathering tournament? Or that video games is the most profitable entertainment sector, and almost all of Australia’s game studios are based in Melbourne?

This city is a hotspot for culture, but the interesting people that make up Melbourne often go ignored.

Students are also an integral part of Melbourne’s identity, and it is constantly cited as Australia’s student capital.

However, the number of student publications is limited, and I’ve been told that some students make it to graduation without having published a single article.

With Arcas, I’m hoping to expand on opportunities for students to develop a professional portfolio, and bring light to the people that would otherwise go ignored.

This is going to be a very experimental first semester for us, and I’m hoping to meet journalists who share my vision and passion for telling the news.

If you’re a casual visitor, thanks for reading. And if you’re a student with a fire in your belly, then I hope to see you in the newsroom.