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The Toronto Star is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands division.[5]

The newspaper was established in 1892 as the Evening Star and was later renamed the Toronto Daily Star in 1900, under Joseph E. Atkinson. Atkinson was a major influence in shaping the editorial stance of the paper, with the paper reflecting his principles until his death in 1948.[6] His son-in-law, Harry C. Hindmarsh, shared those principles as the paper's longtime managing editor while also helping to build circulation with sensational stories, bold headlines and dramatic photos.[7] The paper was renamed the Toronto Star in 1971 and introduced a Sunday edition in 1977.[8]

History

[edit]

The Star was created in 1892[9] by striking Toronto News printers and writers, led by future mayor of Toronto and social reformer Horatio Clarence Hocken, who became the newspaper's founder,[10] along with another future mayor, Jimmy Simpson.

The Star was first printed on Toronto World presses, and at its formation, The World owned a 51 percent interest in it[11] as a silent partner.[12] That arrangement only lasted for two months, during which time it was rumoured that William Findlay "Billy" Maclean, The World's proprietor, was considering selling the Star to the Riordon family.[a] After an extensive fundraising campaign among the Star staff, Maclean agreed to sell his interest to Hocken.[12][14]

The paper did poorly in its first few years. Hocken sold out within the year, and several owners followed in succession until railway entrepreneur William Mackenzie bought it in 1896.[15] Its new editors, Edmund E. Sheppard and Frederic Thomas Nicholls, moved the entire Star operation into the same building used by the magazine Saturday Night.[16]

Under Atkinson

[edit]
Joseph E. Atkinson, c. 1910s. The Star became Toronto's largest newspaper under his leadership.[6]

Joseph E. "Holy Joe" Atkinson, backed by funds raised by supporters of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, bought the paper on December 13, 1899.[16] The supporters included Senator George Cox, William Mulock, Peter Charles Larkin and Timothy Eaton.[17] Atkinson became the controlling shareholder of the Star.[18] The Star was frequently criticized for practising the yellow journalism of its era. For decades, the paper included heavy doses of crime and sensationalism, along with advocating social change.

Atkinson was the Star's editor from 1899 until his death in 1948.[19] The newspaper's early opposition and criticism of the Nazi regime[20] saw it become one of the first North American papers to be banned in Germany.[21] Atkinson had a social conscience. He championed many causes that would come to be associated with the modern welfare state: old age pensions, unemployment insurance, and health care. The Government of Canada Digital Collections website describes Atkinson as:

a "radical" in the best sense of that term.... The Star was unique among North American newspapers in its consistent, ongoing advocacy of the interests of ordinary people. The friendship of Atkinson, the publisher, with Mackenzie King, the prime minister, was a major influence on the development of Canadian social policy.[22]

Shortly before his death in 1948, Joseph E. Atkinson transferred ownership of the paper to a charitable organization given the mandate of continuing the paper's liberal tradition.[23] In 1949, the province of Ontario passed the Charitable Gifts Act,[b] barring charitable organizations from owning large parts of profit-making businesses,[24] that effectively required the Star to be sold.[c]

Atkinson's will had directed that profits from the paper's operations were "for the promotion and maintenance of social, scientific and economic reforms which are charitable in nature, for the benefit of the people of the province of Ontario" and it stipulated that the paper could be sold only to people who shared his social views.[26] The five trustees of the charitable organization circumvented the Act by buying the paper themselves and swearing before the Supreme Court of Ontario to continue what became known as the "Atkinson Principles":[27]

Front page of the Star in 1922, covering Frederick Banting's accomplishments with insulin
  • A strong, united and independent Canada
  • Social justice
  • Individual and civil liberties
  • Community and civic engagement
  • The rights of working people
  • The necessary role of government

Other early media ventures

[edit]

Under Atkinson, the Star launched several other media initiatives, including a weekend supplemental magazine, the Star Weekly, from 1910 to 1973. From 1922 to 1933, the Star was also a radio broadcaster on its station CFCA, broadcasting on a wavelength of 400 metres (749.48 kHz); its coverage was complementary to the paper's reporting.[28] The station was closed following the establishment of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) and the introduction of a government policy that, in essence, restricted private stations to an effective radiated power of 100 watts.[28] The Star would continue to supply sponsored content to the CRBC's CRCT station—which later became CBC station CBL—an arrangement that lasted until 1946.[28]

1971–present

[edit]

In 1971, the newspaper was renamed The Toronto Star and moved to a modern International-style office tower at One Yonge Street by Queens Quay. The original Star building at 80 King Street West was demolished to make room for First Canadian Place.

The Star expanded during the 1970s with the introduction of a Sunday edition in 1973 and a morning edition in 1981.[6]

In 1992, its printing plant was moved to the Toronto Star Press Centre at the Highway 407 & 400 interchange in Vaughan.[29] In September 2002, the logo was changed, and "The" was dropped from the masthead. During the 2003 Northeast blackout, the Star printed the paper at a press in Welland, Ontario. The newspaper's former printing plant was housed at One Yonge Street until the Toronto Star Press Centre opened.

Until the mid-2000s, the front page of the Toronto Star had no third-party advertising aside from upcoming lottery jackpot estimates from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

On May 28, 2007, the Star unveiled a redesigned paper that featured larger type, narrower pages, fewer and shorter articles, renamed sections, a more prominent focus on local news, and less focus on international news, columnists, and opinion pieces.[30] However, on January 1, 2009, the Star reverted to its previous format. Star P.M., a free newspaper in PDF format that could be downloaded from the newspaper's website each weekday afternoon, was discontinued in October 2007, thirteen months after its launch.

On January 15, 2016, Torstar confirmed the closure of its Vaughan printing presses and indicated that it would outsource printing to Transcontinental Printing, leading to the layoff of all 285 staff at the plant, as Transcontinental had its own existing facility, also in Vaughan.[31] The newspaper said the closure was effected so it could better focus on its digital outlets.[32]

In February 2018, the Toronto Star suspended its internship program indefinitely to cut its costs.[33] Long a source of Canada's next generation of journalists, the paid positions were seen by journalists and program alumni as a vital part of the national industry, and their suspension, a sign of its continuing decline.[34] In 2020, the internship program returned.[35]

In April 2018, the Toronto Star expanded its local coverage of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax with rebranded daily newspapers, previously known as Metro, as StarMetro, which was a joint venture between Torstar (90%) and Swedish media company Metro International (10%).[36][37][38] In October 2018, the Toronto Star acquired iPolitics, a political news outlet. It ceased to own the property in 2022.[39][40]

On December 20, 2019, all StarMetro editions ceased publication.[41][42]

The newspaper was acquired by NordStar Capital on May 26, 2020, after the board of Torstar voted to sell the company to the investment firm for CA$52 million—making Torstar a privately held company.[43] The deal was expected to be approved by Torstar's shareholders and to close by the end of 2020.[44] Canadian Modern Media Holdings made an offer of $58 million on July 9, 2020;[45] NordStar subsequently increased its offer to $60 million, effectively ending the bidding war.[45] The majority of shareholders voted in favour of the deal.[46] The takeover was approved by an Ontario judge on July 27, 2020.[47] An appeal of the judgement by another prospective purchaser failed on July 31 when Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Penny dismissed the motion.[48][49][50]

In November 2022, the newspaper moved its headquarters from the 1 Yonge Street to a new location on Spadina Avenue at Front Street.[51][52][53][54]

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Editorial position

[edit]

Like its competitor The Globe and Mail, the Star covers "a spectrum of opinion that is best described as urban and Central Canadian" in character. The Star is generally centrist and centre-left, and is more socially liberal than The Globe and Mail.[55] The paper has aligned itself over the years with the progressive "Atkinson principles" named for publisher Joseph E. Atkinson,[56] who was editor and publisher of the paper for 50 years.[57] These principles included social justice and social welfare provision, as well as individual rights and civil liberties.[57] In 1984, scholar Wilfred H. Kesterton described the Star as "perpetually indignant" because of its social consciousness.[55] When Atkinson's son Joseph Story Atkinson became president of the Star in 1957, he said, "From its inception in 1892, the Star has been a champion of social and economic reform, a defender of minority rights, a foe of discrimination, a friend of organized labour and a staunch advocate of Canadian nationhood."[57]

Another of the "Atkinson principles" has been a "strong, united and independent Canada"; in a 1927 editorial, the paper wrote, "We believe in the British connection as much as anybody does but on a self-respecting basis of equality, of citizenship, and not on the old basis of one country belonging to the other."[57] The paper was historically wary of American influence,[57] and during the debates over the North American Free Trade Agreement, the paper was frequently critical of free trade and expressed concerns about Canadian sovereignty.[58] The paper has been traditionally supportive of official bilingualism and maintaining Canadian unity in opposition to Quebec separatism.[57]

In the 1980s, Michael Farber wrote in the Montreal Gazette that the Star's coverage was Toronto-centric to the point that any story was said to carry an explanation as to "What it means to Metro."[59] Conversely, Canadian sociologist Elke Winter wrote in 2011 that the Toronto Star was less "Toronto-centric" than its rival, The Globe and Mail, writing that the Star "consciously reports for and from Canada's most multicultural city" and catered to a diverse readership.[55]

The advent of the National Post in 1998 shook up the Toronto newspaper market.[60] In the upheaval that followed, editorial spending increased and there was much turnover of editors and publishers.[61]

Election endorsements

[edit]

In the 50 years to 1972, the Star endorsed the Liberal Party in each federal general election.[62] In the fifteen federal elections between 1968 and 2019, the Star has endorsed the Liberal Party eleven times, the New Democratic Party twice, and the Progressive Conservative Party twice.[56]

Elections in which the Star did not endorse the Liberals took place in 1972 and 1974 (when it endorsed the Progressive Conservatives), and in 1979 and 2011 (when it endorsed the NDP).[62][56] In the 2011 election, the Star endorsed the NDP under Jack Layton,[1] but to avoid vote splitting that could inadvertently help the Conservatives under Stephen Harper, which it saw as the worst outcome for the country, the paper also recommended Canadians vote strategically by voting for "the progressive candidate best placed to win" in certain ridings.[63] For the 2015 election, the Star endorsed the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau,[64] and did so again in 2019[65] and 2021.[66] The Star endorsed the Liberals under Mark Carney for the 2025 federal election.[67]

In Toronto's non-partisan mayoral elections, the Star endorsed George Smitherman in 2010[68] and John Tory in 2014,[69] 2018,[70] and 2022.[71] The Star endorsed Ana Bailão in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election.[72]

Features

[edit]

The Star is one of the few Canadian newspapers that employs a "public editor" (ombudsman) and was the first to do so. Its newsroom policy and journalistic standards guide is also published online.[73]

The Star favours an inclusive, "big tent" approach, not wishing to attract one group of readers at the expense of others.[citation needed] It publishes regular features on real estate, individual neighbourhoods, style, business and travel.

Products

[edit]

Website

[edit]

The Star launched its website in 1996.[6] In October 2012, the Star announced its intention to implement a paywall on its website, thestar.com,[74] effective August 13, 2013. Readers with daily home delivery had free access to all digital content. Those without a digital subscription could access 10 articles a month.[75][76] The Star removed its paywall on April 1, 2015,[77] and revived it in 2018.[78]

Mobile app

[edit]

On September 15, 2015, the Toronto Star released the Star Touch tablet app, which was a free interactive news app with interactive advertisements. At launch, it was only available for the iPad, which uses iOS. Based on a similar app for Montreal-based La Presse released in 2013, Star Touch is the first such app for any English-language news organization.[79] In slightly over 50 days after launch, the app had reached the 100,000-download milestone.[80] The Android version was launched on December 1, 2015.[81]

The Star's current iOS app is rated 12+ by Apple's App Store guidelines[82] and the Android version is rated Mature 17+ by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).[83]

Circulation

[edit]
A Canada Post mailbox next to an empty Toronto Star vending box

The Toronto Star has seen, like most Canadian daily newspapers, a decline in circulation. Its total circulation dropped by 22 percent to 318,763 copies daily from 2009 to 2015.[84]

100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Daily average total circulation (print and digital combined) which includes paid and unpaid copies[84]

Offices

[edit]
Offices used by the Star
1905–1929
1929–1970
1970–2022

The Toronto Star has been located at several addresses since 1892.[8]

Notable staff

[edit]

Publishers

[edit]

Journalists and columnists

[edit]

Cartoonists

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Toronto Star

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The Toronto Star is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 1892 by printers displaced in a labour dispute as a voice for working-class interests. Acquired and revitalized by Joseph E. Atkinson in 1899, who served as its publisher until 1948, the paper developed a reputation for championing social reforms aligned with progressive causes, formalized in the Atkinson Principles emphasizing individual rights, social welfare, and honest government. Owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, it has historically claimed the status of Canada's largest-circulation daily print newspaper while transitioning to digital platforms. The publication is noted for investigative journalism, including award-winning exposés such as the 2023 Greenbelt development scandal that prompted a policy reversal by the Ontario government, earning the Michener Award for public-service reporting. However, it has faced criticism for editorial biases leaning left-center, as assessed by independent media evaluators, reflecting broader institutional tendencies in Canadian journalism toward progressive framing of issues. Controversies include retracted or amended headlines perceived as inflammatory, such as those targeting unvaccinated individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting occasional lapses in balanced rhetoric.

Founding and Early History

Establishment as Evening Star (1892–1900)

The Evening Star was established on November 3, 1892, by 21 striking printers and four apprentices from the Toronto News, who had been locked out by publisher John Ross Robertson amid a labor dispute over union recognition and wages. Led by shop foreman Horatio Clarence Hocken—a future mayor of Toronto and social reformer—the group produced the inaugural four-page edition with a print run that sold out quickly, initially denting the News's circulation through aggressive street sales. Financial support included a printing plant and office space provided by William Findlay Maclean, a Toronto World employee, in exchange for a temporary majority stake; additional backing came from locked-out World staff and printer Edward H. MacLean. The paper positioned itself as an independent voice "for the people," with its first editorial advocating "thorough Canadianism" and the utilitarian principle of "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" in governance and morals. It critiqued wealth concentration, called for redress of labor injustices through education, legislation, or upheaval if needed, and emphasized local news alongside world affairs to serve Toronto's working-class readership. Owned by Liberal-leaning proprietors, it maintained a reformist tone but faced immediate challenges, including the return of many staff, including Hocken, to the News by December 1892 following a settlement. Throughout the 1890s, the Evening Star grappled with persistent financial instability, suspending publication for several weeks in 1893 amid low advertising revenue and competition from established dailies like the News and Globe. Circulation remained modest, hovering below 10,000 daily copies by mid-decade, as the paper shifted focus to sensational crime stories and human-interest features to attract readers. By 1899, facing potential collapse, Liberal interests recruited Joseph E. Atkinson as editor and manager; he stabilized operations through cost cuts and revenue strategies, acquiring control and renaming it the Toronto Daily Star on January 24, 1900.

Atkinson Principles and Expansion (1899–1948)

In 1899, Joseph E. Atkinson assumed the role of editor and manager of the Evening Star, a newspaper struggling with the lowest circulation among Toronto's six dailies at approximately 7,000 copies per day. He became majority shareholder by 1913 and publisher until his death in 1948, renaming the paper the Toronto Daily Star in 1900. Atkinson's editorial philosophy, later codified as the Atkinson Principles, emphasized a strong and independent Canada, social justice, workers' rights, civil liberties, community engagement, and the state's duty to intervene where private enterprise failed to address societal needs. These principles informed the Star's advocacy for progressive reforms, including minimum wages, old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, and family allowances, influencing policies like the 1944 introduction of family allowances in Canada. Under Atkinson's direction, the Toronto experienced significant expansion, surpassing competitors like the and , the , and the by 1903, and achieving the highest circulation in Toronto—second nationally only to La Presse and the Montreal —by 1909. The newspaper launched the Toronto Weekly in 1910 to fill the gap in Sunday editions, enhancing its reach in Toronto and south-central . Circulation growth was driven by a focus on human-interest stories, local issues, and lively writing, attracting contributors such as Morley Callaghan and Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s and 1930s. Key initiatives included the establishment of the Toronto Fresh Air Fund in 1901 and the Santa Claus Fund in 1906, which provided aid to underprivileged children and reinforced the paper's commitment to social welfare. Atkinson's left-of-centre editorial stance led to support for labor actions, such as the Winnipeg General Strike and mediation of the 1937 Oshawa Strike, as well as opposition to conscription during the First World War, aligning with the principles' emphasis on individual rights and workers' protections. By 1948, the Star had solidified its dominance in the region, though its progressive positions drew enmity from Ontario's Conservative government in the 1940s, culminating in a libel suit against the Globe and Mail. Upon Atkinson's death on May 8, 1948, he bequeathed control to the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, ensuring the principles' institutionalization amid legal challenges resolved by 1958.

Postwar Development and Corporate Formation

Leadership Transitions (1948–1971)

Following the death of publisher Joseph E. Atkinson on May 8, 1948, control of the Toronto Daily Star's daily operations shifted to his son-in-law, Harry C. Hindmarsh, who assumed the role of managing editor. Hindmarsh, a longtime executive at the paper since the early 1900s and married to Atkinson's daughter, maintained firm editorial oversight, which historical analyses describe as steering the publication toward more conservative positions and reducing its alignment with Atkinson's established progressive principles on social justice and individual rights. This period marked a temporary divergence, with Hindmarsh's authoritarian management style contributing to internal tensions among staff favoring the founder's legacy. Hindmarsh led until his death on December 20, 1956, after which the paper regained greater editorial independence while retaining its general support for the Liberal Party's nationalist elements. Concurrently, Beland H. Honderich, who had joined the Star as a reporter in 1943 and advanced to financial editor, was appointed editor-in-chief in 1955, positioning him to influence the post-Hindmarsh recovery. Honderich's tenure emphasized restoring focus on investigative reporting and social issues, aligning more closely with the Atkinson Charitable Foundation's oversight, to which Atkinson had transferred ownership shortly before his death to perpetuate his principles amid concerns over potential government intervention in press freedoms. In 1958, five trustees from the Atkinson Foundation, including family members and senior executives, acquired the newspaper and reorganized it under Toronto Star Ltd., with Joseph S. Atkinson—son of the founder—serving as president from 1957 and later as board chairman. This transition formalized , insulating the paper from dominance while navigating postwar circulation growth and from rivals like the Toronto Telegram. Joseph S. Atkinson held the chairmanship until his death on November 4, 1968, from complications of a brain tumor. Honderich ascended to president and publisher in 1966, consolidating executive power and overseeing expansions in staff and facilities amid rising advertising revenues that reached over $20 million annually by the late 1960s. Under his direction, the Star emphasized urban development critiques and labor rights, though critics noted persistent Liberal endorsements in federal elections, reflecting the paper's institutional leanings rather than unyielding neutrality. By 1971, these leadership stabilizations had positioned the publication for broader national influence, culminating in its official rebranding as the Toronto Star on that year's date.

Diversification into Other Media

In the postwar era, the Toronto Star extended its reach beyond daily newspapers through the Star Weekly, a magazine supplement launched in 1910 that gained prominence as a staple for rural and suburban readers lacking access to timely dailies. By the 1950s and 1960s, the Star Weekly had evolved into a 16-page publication featuring serialized novels, investigative articles, lifestyle content, and illustrated news summaries, achieving widespread distribution via mail and bundled with weekend newspaper editions. This format allowed the Star to diversify revenue streams through advertising targeted at national brands, while providing supplementary depth to its core journalism; circulation peaked at over 500,000 copies weekly in the mid-1960s, reflecting its role in bridging urban-rural media gaps. Under leadership transitions following Joseph Atkinson's death in 1948, the Star Weekly benefited from investments in color printing and photography, enhancing its appeal amid rising competition from U.S. imports like The Saturday Evening Post. Editors emphasized Canadian-centric content, including political analysis and cultural features, aligning with the Atkinson principles of social reform, though the magazine maintained a lighter tone than the daily paper. By 1968, facing declining ad revenues and shifting reader habits toward television, the Star entered a collaborative arrangement with Southam Newspapers, sharing production costs and content syndication; this joint operation extended until the magazine's discontinuation in 1973, marking the end of the Star's significant magazine diversification efforts in the pre-digital age. While the postwar period saw no major forays into broadcasting or books—activities confined largely to print extensions—the Star Weekly represented an early form of multi-format media strategy, leveraging the newspaper's infrastructure for weekly compilations that boosted overall brand loyalty and ancillary income from fiction serializations and merchandise tie-ins. This approach prefigured broader corporate diversification post-1971, but remained integral to Torstar's operations through the 1960s, supporting financial stability amid rising newsprint costs and urban expansion.

Contemporary Evolution and Challenges

Editorial and Operational Shifts (1971–2020)

Following the demise of its primary competitor, The Toronto Telegram, in 1971, the Toronto Star assumed dominance in Toronto's evening newspaper market and formally adopted its present name, dropping "Daily" from the title. That year, the newspaper relocated its headquarters to a new facility at One Yonge Street, enhancing operational capacity amid rising circulation. Under longtime publisher Beland Honderich (serving until 1988), the Star expanded its offerings, launching a Sunday edition in 1973 to capture weekend readership. In 1977, the parent company, Toronto Star Ltd., restructured and rebranded as Torstar Corporation, formalizing its corporate governance while adhering to the Atkinson Principles of social justice and fair reporting. The 1980s saw further operational with the introduction of a in , shifting from evening-only distribution to compete in a consolidating market. transitioned to R. Jolley as publisher in , followed by John Honderich in , who oversaw expansions including Torstar's $335 million acquisition of four regional (the Hamilton Spectator, Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Guelph Mercury, and Cambridge Reporter) from Quebecor on March 1, 1999. Editorial policy remained anchored in the Atkinson framework, emphasizing individual rights and progressive causes without documented fundamental shifts, though the paper's coverage increasingly reflected liberal priorities in line with its historical stance. The digital era prompted significant operational pivots starting with the launch of the Star's news website in 1996, marking an early embrace of online distribution. By the 2010s, print revenue declines—exacerbated by industry-wide advertising losses—drove cost-cutting measures, including 166 staff accepting voluntary severance in 2009. Initiatives like the tablet-exclusive Star Touch edition, developed in partnership with La Presse and launched around 2014, aimed to innovate but were discontinued in 2017, resulting in 30 layoffs primarily among content and production staff. In 2016, the closure of a Vaughan printing plant eliminated 13 newsroom positions, followed by cuts to 45 newsroom jobs (including 10 reporters and 5 editors) amid reported annual losses exceeding $20 million CAD. A website redesign in 2016 optimized for mobile users, reflecting broader efforts to prioritize digital subscriptions over print. By April 2015, the Star retained its position as Canada's largest daily by circulation, though operational pressures underscored the challenges of transitioning from analog to multimedia models.

Ownership Sale to NordStar and Aftermath (2020–Present)

In May 2020, Torstar Corporation, the parent company of the Toronto Star, announced an agreement to be acquired by NordStar Capital LP, a private investment firm controlled by entrepreneurs Jordan Bitove and Paul Rivett and wholly owned by their families. The initial deal valued Torstar at approximately C$52 million, offering C$0.63 per share for all outstanding Class A voting and Class B non-voting shares, representing a premium over the prevailing market price but a significant decline from its peak valuation. The transaction faced a competing bid from a group led by former executive David Olive, but Torstar's board determined the NordStar offer superior after amendments increased the price to C$0.74 per unit, culminating in a total enterprise value of about C$60 million. The acquisition closed on August 5, 2020, taking Torstar private and delisting it from the Toronto Stock Exchange, thereby removing it from public shareholder oversight. NordStar's principals emphasized a commitment to preserving the Toronto Star's journalistic legacy while addressing financial challenges through operational efficiencies and digital transformation. Post-acquisition, Torstar divested non-core digital assets, including vertical websites in automotive, finance, and parenting sectors, to VerticalScope Inc. for C$10 million in cash and shares in June 2021, aiming to refocus resources on core newspaper operations amid declining print revenues. Tensions emerged between Bitove and Rivett by mid-2022, leading to a dispute over strategic direction and control. Rivett filed a application in 2022 seeking to up NordStar Capital, citing an irreparable breakdown in their , failure to agree on budgets, and Bitove's alleged shift from agreed-upon cost-cutting plans. Bitove countered that he had prioritized resilience and accountability, resigning from NordStar's board amid the conflict, which drew internal apologies to staff for the spectacle. The parties agreed to mediation and arbitration in October 2022; an arbitrator awarded Bitove full ownership of Torstar in November 2022, with Rivett exiting the venture. Under Bitove's sole control, explored a potential merger with Corp. in June 2023, which would have combined Torstar's assets—including the Toronto Star—with Postmedia's publications to achieve scale amid industry consolidation. Discussions terminated in July 2023 without a definitive agreement, attributed to unresolved terms on , , and regulatory approvals, preserving Torstar's separate operations. As of 2025, Bitove-led continues to own and operate Torstar, with ongoing emphasis on cost management and digital subscriptions, though the company faces persistent pressures from advertising declines and competition in Canadian media.

Ownership and Governance

Torstar Corporation Structure

Torstar Corporation operates as a privately held Canadian media holding company, fully owned by entrepreneur Jordan Bitove following a 2022 arbitration settlement that resolved disputes among former NordStar Capital partners after the 2020 acquisition that took the firm private. Prior to Bitove's sole ownership, NordStar Capital LP—controlled by Bitove, Paul Rivett, and associates—acquired all shares for approximately $52 million CAD, ending public trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The corporate governance structure includes a board of directors chaired by David Peterson, former Premier of Ontario, overseeing strategic direction and compliance in the private entity. Executive leadership is headed by Chief Executive Officer Neil Oliver, appointed in 2022, who manages day-to-day operations across media assets including the Toronto Star and community newspapers. In March 2025, Angus Frame was appointed President, reporting to Oliver and focusing on operational execution. Key supporting roles include Chief Revenue Officer Brandon Grosvenor, responsible for advertising and digital monetization, and Chief Financial Officer Chris Rankin, handling fiscal oversight. Torstar's organizational centers on its subsidiaries: Newspapers publishes the daily, while operates over 100 publications and digital , reflecting a emphasizing print-digital integration under centralized corporate control. This setup, post-privatization, prioritizes efficiencies and diversification amid declining print circulation, with approximately fewer than 1,000 employees as of 2024. Legal and functions, such as led by Houlden, support compliance and capital allocation in a lean, owner-influenced framework.

Influence of Private Equity Ownership

In August 2020, NordStar Capital, a private equity firm controlled by Jordan Bitove and Paul Rivett, acquired Torstar Corporation—the parent company of the Toronto Star—for approximately $60 million, taking it private from public shareholders. This transaction ended decades of family-controlled ownership and introduced a profit-oriented approach typical of private equity, emphasizing operational efficiencies amid declining print advertising revenues, which had fallen industry-wide by over 80% since 2005. NordStar's strategy focused on long-term viability through asset sales and restructuring, including the divestiture of VerticalScope, a digital media subsidiary generating over $60 million in annual revenue, to a third party in June 2021. Under NordStar, Torstar pursued cost reductions to address pre-existing financial pressures, such as a $23.9 million loss reported in early 2016 and ongoing circulation declines. A key manifestation occurred in September 2023, when subsidiary Metroland Media—operating over 70 regional newspapers—sought creditor protection under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, leading to the elimination of approximately 600 positions and the cessation of print editions for many titles. These moves aligned with private equity practices of shedding underperforming assets to concentrate resources on flagship properties like the Toronto Star, though they drew criticism for exacerbating local news deserts in Ontario communities. Financially, the acquisition did not immediately reverse Torstar's trajectory; merger discussions with Postmedia Network in mid-2023, aimed at pooling resources to combat $288 million in combined debt and $198 million in interest expenses since 2017, collapsed amid disputes over editorial control and revenue-sharing models. The shift to private equity ownership has raised questions about journalistic integrity, as NordStar's principals—particularly Rivett, a founder of the conservative think tank—bring perspectives diverging from the Toronto Star's historical left-center editorial stance. NordStar has pledged to preserve the Star's , with Bitove stating in 2020 that "high-quality is not cheap" and requires models. However, operational pressures have indirectly affected content production; while the Star's core avoided the scale of Metroland's cuts, broader cost management has prioritized digital subscriptions and efficiency over expansive investigative reporting, contributing to a 2023 industry trend where Canadian media firms, including , navigated layoffs totaling thousands amid and Meta's withdrawal from news payments under the . Critics from left-leaning outlets contend this model accelerates consolidation, potentially diluting public-interest in favor of profitability, though empirical data on post-2020 Star output shows sustained investigative pieces alongside reduced regional coverage. No verifiable evidence indicates direct interference in editorial decisions, but the ownership's merger pursuits suggest a pragmatic focus on scale over ideological preservation.

Editorial Positions and Perceived Bias

Historical Stance and Election Endorsements

The Toronto Star's editorial stance has been shaped since the early by publisher Joseph E. Atkinson, who from 1899 to 1948 directed the paper toward a left-of-centre perspective emphasizing , individual rights, public ownership of utilities, and opposition to . Atkinson's principles, formalized in a 1936 charter, prioritized truth-telling, fairness, and advocacy for the underprivileged, fostering a tradition of progressive reformism that critiqued corporate power and supported welfare measures. This framework established the Star as a voice for liberal causes, distinguishing it from more conservative Toronto dailies like . In federal elections, the Star has demonstrated a pronounced pattern of endorsing the Liberal Party, supporting it in 31 of 36 contests through the late , reflecting alignment with centre-left policies on economic regulation and social programs. Notable exceptions include backing the pro-conscription Unionist coalition in 1917, the Progressive Conservatives under in 1972 amid economic discontent with Pierre Trudeau's Liberals, and the NDP in 1979 for its emphasis. Specific pre-1980 endorsements reinforced this Liberal tilt, such as in 1949 against Progressive Conservative George Drew and in 1963 opposing John Diefenbaker's Conservatives. From 1980 onward, the pattern persisted with 12 Liberal endorsements out of 13 federal elections, interrupted only by an NDP recommendation in 2011 due to Jack Layton's perceived competence amid Liberal weaknesses.
YearEndorsement
1980Liberal
1984Liberal
1988Liberal
1993Liberal
1997Liberal
2000Liberal
2004Liberal
2006Liberal
2008Liberal
2011NDP
2015Liberal
2019Liberal
2021Liberal
Provincially in , the Star has favored Liberals in 8 of 12 elections since 1981, with NDP support in 1999 and 2018, a single Progressive Conservative nod in 1981, and a mixed stance in 2022 reflecting reservations about all major parties. This record underscores a consistent preference for centre-left , occasionally extending to social-democratic alternatives when Liberals faltered, rather than conservative platforms prioritizing or .

Analyses of Left-Center Leanings

Media bias rating organizations have assessed the Toronto Star as exhibiting a left-center bias, primarily through evaluations of its editorial endorsements, story selection, and framing of policy issues. assigns a Left-Center rating, citing consistent support for progressive candidates such as in federal elections and critical coverage of conservative figures like Ontario Premier , as evidenced by editorials urging Ford to prioritize governance over campaigning. This assessment attributes the bias to a pattern of favoring left-leaning positions on social issues, while noting high factual reporting standards upheld by proper sourcing from outlets like the . Ground News similarly categorizes the publication as Lean Left, aggregating bias indicators from multiple evaluators to reflect a moderate tilt in coverage toward liberal perspectives. Empirical analyses of content reinforce this left-center characterization, particularly in the Toronto Star's historical election endorsements, which predominantly align with the Liberal Party. Compilations of federal election endorsements over four decades show the Toronto Star backing Liberals in most cycles, including support for Mark Carney's Liberals in the 2025 election, contrasting with rarer nods to Conservative or NDP platforms. Studies on issue framing, such as those examining coverage, reveal the Toronto Star's tendency to emphasize systemic causes and policy solutions aligned with center-left reforms, differing from more market-oriented framings in comparably centrist outlets. On , content analyses from 1988 to 2007 indicate proactive endorsement of anthropogenic explanations and government intervention, consistent with left-center priorities without descending into unsubstantiated advocacy. These leanings manifest in reader demographics and trust metrics, with surveys indicating a predominantly liberal audience and 57% public trust in the Toronto Star's coverage per Reuters Institute data, though conservative critiques often amplify perceptions of stronger partisanship. AllSides has rated or preliminarily viewed it as Center in some assessments, suggesting balance in news reporting amid opinionated editorials, but low-confidence ratings underscore methodological challenges in quantifying subtle biases like omission or tonal emphasis. Such analyses highlight the Toronto Star's position as moderately left-of-center within Canada's media landscape, where empirical evidence prioritizes verifiable patterns over anecdotal claims of extremity.

Conservative Critiques and Empirical Evidence of Partisanship

Conservative commentators have frequently criticized the Toronto Star for demonstrating a structural left-wing partisanship, manifested in its editorial endorsements and selective framing of political events that disadvantages conservative figures and policies. Over the period from 1980 to 2021, the newspaper endorsed the Liberal Party in 12 out of 13 federal elections, with its sole deviation being a 2011 endorsement of the amid widespread dissatisfaction with Liberal leadership. This consistent alignment with centre-left parties is interpreted by critics as prioritizing ideological affinity over journalistic impartiality, particularly given the Star's historical commitment to social democratic principles established by founder Joseph Atkinson, which emphasize progressive reforms on issues like inequality and labour . Empirical analyses of media bias reinforce these critiques, with evaluators such as rating the Toronto Star as left-center biased due to editorial stances favoring left-leaning policies, though noting high factual accuracy in reporting. Conservative outlets like the have documented specific instances of unbalanced coverage, including April 2024 articles portraying Conservative leader in a manner deemed a "hit job" by amplifying unverified claims while downplaying policy substance. Similarly, an October 2024 piece on policy adjustments under was accused of misrepresenting reductions as a rejection of Canada's welcoming , ignoring on strains and exceeding capacity. Further evidence of partisanship appears in columns, where contributors like Shree Paradkar have been faulted for advancing narratives that conservatives view as ideologically extreme, such as a February 2024 column critiquing former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on in terms that aligned closely with pro-Palestinian activism amid the Israel- conflict. These patterns persist despite the 2020 ownership change to Capital, owned by figures with conservative ties, suggesting entrenched editorial culture resistant to shifts toward broader ideological balance. Critics argue this reflects broader institutional dynamics in Canadian , where left-leaning perspectives dominate legacy media, potentially undermining in outlets perceived as vehicles rather than neutral observers.

Content Production and Features

Core News and Investigative Reporting

![Banting-front-page_Toronto_Daily_Star_1922.jpg][float-right] The Toronto Star maintains a dedicated investigations team focused on exposing wrongdoing, with Chief Investigative Reporter Kevin Donovan leading efforts that emphasize accountability and public impact. Core news reporting covers daily events in Toronto, Ontario, and Canada, including politics, crime, and health, often integrating data-driven analysis. In 2025, the team reported on the Maplehurst inmate abuse scandal, where systemic cover-ups led to the collapse of a murder prosecution after a judge cited evidence tampering and brutality at the facility. Investigative projects have included long-form series on high-profile cases, such as the 2017 murders of pharmaceutical executives Barry and Honey Sherman, resulting in a series "Suspicion: Murder on Mount Olive" and a by Donovan detailing forensic and financial leads. Historical examples feature reporter Dale Brazao's work in the and , uncovering hit-and-run perpetrators and international fugitives through persistent fieldwork. Recent collaborations with the University of Toronto's Investigative Journalism Bureau yielded National Newspaper Awards for reporting on Indigenous health benefits and childhood scandals, prompting policy reviews. The Star's investigative output has earned recognition like six National Newspaper Awards in 2025 and Canadian Association of Journalists nominations, though awards bodies exhibit left-leaning tendencies that may favor aligned narratives. Fact-checking analyses rate the publication high for sourcing and minimal corrections in news content, despite editorial left-center bias influencing story selection. Undercover reporting, such as on business practices, contributed to Best in Business awards in 2025 for scoops driving regulatory scrutiny. Critics from conservative outlets argue that partisan framing occasionally undermines perceived neutrality in sensitive topics like crime and immigration, though empirical errors remain rare.

Opinion Pieces, Columns, and Special Sections

The Toronto Star maintains a dedicated section that includes editorials authored by its , regular columns from staff commentators, contributions from external writers, letters to the editor, and editorial cartoons. These elements collectively provide interpretive analysis on political, social, economic, and cultural topics, often emphasizing progressive policy priorities such as , , and critiques of conservative governance. Editorials, published under the Board's collective voice, address current events with prescriptive recommendations, as seen in pieces advocating for figures like in economic leadership roles or opposing punitive approaches to under provincial administrations. The Board's output reflects the newspaper's historical commitment to activist , tracing back to early 20th-century columnists who blended reporting with , such as Reverend Salem Bland writing as "" to promote social reforms. Staff columns feature prominent writers offering personal perspectives on urban affairs, national politics, and global issues. Notable contributors include Edward Keenan, who focuses on Toronto municipal politics; Susan Delacourt, analyzing federal policy; Andrew Phillips, critiquing international figures like ; and Heather Mallick, addressing cultural and social topics. Other long-standing voices, such as on electoral dynamics and on gender and labor issues, have shaped the section's tone through decades of commentary. Independent assessments rate these opinion pieces as left-center biased, favoring liberal-leaning viewpoints while maintaining high factual standards in sourcing, though conservative observers contend the content exhibits stronger partisanship, particularly in coverage of Israel-Palestine conflicts where opinion material has been accused of omitting balanced context. Special sections within opinion include "The Big Debate," which structures opposing arguments on policy questions like nuclear energy's role in climate strategies or parliamentary procedures, aiming to simulate balanced discourse. Letters to the editor provide a forum for reader responses to news, with submissions vetted for relevance and moderated to align with publication standards, often highlighting public frustrations on topics like urban infrastructure or elections. Editorial cartoons, a staple since the paper's founding, offer satirical visuals critiquing power structures, continuing a tradition of visual commentary that underscores the section's interpretive rather than neutral role. Analyses of the overall opinion output note its alignment with institutional media tendencies toward left-leaning framing, potentially influenced by editorial gatekeeping that prioritizes certain narratives over empirical counterpoints.

Products, Distribution, and Circulation

The Toronto Star publishes a daily print edition distributed primarily in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions, serving as Canada's largest local daily newspaper by readership. This print product includes standard newspaper sections such as news, opinion, and features, with options for advertising integrations like cover wraps through its turn-key print and distribution services. The newspaper's digital platforms center on its website, thestar.com, which delivers online versions of print content alongside exclusive digital articles, videos, and interactive elements. A metered was implemented on August 13, 2013, permitting a limited number of free articles per month before prompting payment, aimed at transitioning readers from print to digital subscriptions. Print subscribers receive bundled digital access, including an ePaper replica of the daily print edition. In July 2024, the Toronto Star expanded access options by introducing pay-per-article purchases and daily passes for casual readers unwilling to commit to full subscriptions, reflecting adaptations to varying user preferences in digital consumption. These platforms also integrate with third-party services like for online subscriptions to digitized print issues.

Circulation Declines and Financial Metrics

The Toronto Star's print circulation has followed the broader downward trajectory observed across Canadian daily newspapers, driven by shifts in reader habits toward and reduced support for print. According to the 2015 Daily Newspaper Circulation Report published by News Media Canada, the Toronto Star's average daily circulation stood at 318,763 copies, reflecting a 22 percent decline from 2009 levels. This figure encompassed both paid and controlled distribution, highlighting early signs of erosion in single-copy sales and subscriptions amid rising competition from online news sources. Financial metrics for , the 's parent company, underscore the pressures accompanying circulation declines. In 2021, Torstar's total decreased 7 percent to C$292.4 million, with operating from its core media business falling to C$211.3 million from C$229.8 million the prior year, primarily due to weakened print advertising and circulation income. Earlier, in the first quarter of 2020, operating dropped 20 percent to C$92.5 million compared to the same period in , exacerbated by pandemic-related disruptions to print distribution and ad markets. These figures, drawn from Torstar's disclosures while it was publicly traded, indicate structural challenges, as print ad revenues have not been fully replaced by digital equivalents despite industry-wide efforts. Efforts to mitigate declines include a pivot to digital subscriptions and alternative revenue models. By the third quarter of 2019, Torstar reported 23,400 digital-only subscriptions for the Toronto Star, marking a "significant and growing" portion of subscriber revenue. More recently, the Toronto Star's flagship newsletter, First Up, approached 300,000 subscribers by early 2025, up from 135,633 in 2022, signaling audience retention in non-print formats. In response to ongoing financial strain post-privatization by NordStar Capital in 2020, Torstar introduced micropayment options for the Toronto Star in 2024, allowing casual readers to pay small amounts for individual articles to diversify beyond subscriptions and ads. Aggregate Canadian data from Statista further contextualizes these trends, showing printed newspaper circulation revenues falling by approximately C$200 million between 2015 and 2022, while digital circulation revenues reached C$131.1 million in 2022.

Operational Aspects

Facilities and Headquarters

The Toronto Star's headquarters are currently located at 8 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5V 0S8, housing editorial, administrative, and digital operations in a modern office space within The Well development. This relocation followed the phase-out of operations at the longtime 1 Yonge Street facility, for which a demolition permit was issued in December 2024. Historically, the newspaper's facilities evolved with its growth. From 1929 to 1970, operations were based in the Toronto Star Building at 80 King Street West, an 18-storey structure demolished in 1972 to accommodate . The 1 Yonge Street building, occupied starting in the early , initially included printing presses that supported daily production until their relocation in 1992 to a new press centre in , . Printing facilities at the plant, located at 1 Century Place in Woodbridge, featured six Manroland web presses capable of producing up to 55,000 copies per hour and over 6,000 plates on peak days. However, facing declining , closed the plant in 2016 and outsourced to Transcontinental Printing, eliminating in-house production capabilities. Today, the Toronto Star relies on contracted services for its print edition, with primary focus shifted to digital platforms from the headquarters.

Staffing, Job Cuts, and Internal Culture

The Toronto Star's newsroom staffing has contracted amid broader industry pressures from declining print circulation and digital transition costs. As of 2019, the newspaper maintained approximately 160 staff at its One headquarters, focused on core editorial operations. This figure reflects a reduction from earlier decades, when larger teams supported daily production, though exact historical peaks are not publicly detailed in corporate disclosures. Major job cuts have punctuated the newspaper's operations, often tied to financial losses and restructuring. In 2009, during the global , 166 employees accepted voluntary severance packages as part of widespread cost reductions across Corporation, the Star's parent company at the time. By 2013, the Star announced 80 layoffs primarily affecting unionized positions, with the local representing employees negotiating alternatives over a 90-day period to mitigate impacts. In August 2016, following a reported C$25 million loss, Torstar eliminated 52 positions, including 45 in the Toronto Star newsroom—comprising 26 temporary roles on the Star Touch tablet edition and 19 permanent jobs such as 10 reporters and five editors. The 2017 discontinuation of Star Touch led to 29 full-time and one part-time layoff. Into the 2020s, while core newsroom cuts have been less severe than at subsidiaries like Media (which shed 600 regional jobs in 2023), the Star has offered voluntary buyouts and faced staff criticism over ongoing cost controls, with Local 87-M actively bargaining to avert further involuntary separations as recently as 2024. The Toronto Star's internal culture operates within a unionized framework under Unifor, which has historically negotiated collective agreements covering editorial, production, and administrative roles, including provisions for leaves and job security. Employee reviews describe a collaborative and supportive environment with strong work-life balance, rated 4.2 out of 5 on platforms aggregating anonymous feedback, though overall culture scores around 3.1 reflect challenges from industry contraction and perceived lack of strategic direction. Staff morale has been strained by repeated restructurings, with unions decrying "blindsiding" tactics in ownership changes and layoffs, as seen in 2022 disputes over Torstar's dissolution application for a subsidiary. Similar sentiments appear in Indeed assessments, noting a relaxed pace but fair remuneration amid a "friendly" atmosphere. No major public scandals of toxicity or harassment have emerged, but the persistent threat of cuts in a legacy media context has fostered caution among employees, per aggregated professional reviews.

Notable Contributors

Publishers and Executive Editors

Joseph E. Atkinson assumed control as editor and de facto publisher of the Toronto Star in 1899, steering it toward prominence as a voice for social reform and working-class interests until his death on May 8, 1948. During his nearly five-decade tenure, Atkinson expanded circulation from modest beginnings to over 400,000 daily by the 1940s, emphasizing investigative reporting and advocacy for , public ownership of utilities, and opposition to in both world wars. He formalized these priorities in the Atkinson Principles, which continue to underpin the paper's mission, including commitments to truth-telling without fear or favor and support for individual rights. After Atkinson's passing, oversight shifted to the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, which held shares until provincial legislation prompted the creation of in 1958 to manage operations. Beland Honderich, who joined the Star in 1942 as a financial reporter, rose to in 1955 before becoming president and publisher in 1966, a role he maintained until 1988 amid a period of technological upgrades and national expansion. Honderich's leadership solidified the paper's market dominance, with circulation peaking at around 700,000 in the late , though critics noted a persistent left-liberal tilt inherited from Atkinson. John Honderich, Beland's son and a former , served as publisher from 1995 to 2004, navigating early internet challenges and defending the Star's interventionist journalism style in his memoir . Subsequent publishers included interim figures until Jordan Bitove assumed the role on October 1, 2020, following Capital's acquisition of ; Bitove has prioritized and public trust amid declining print revenues. On the editorial side, executive editors handle day-to-day newsroom operations under the publisher and . Grant Ellis was appointed executive editor in August 2024, building on his prior roles at the Star in digital and since 2021, with responsibilities for and multimedia integration. This position supports Nicole MacIntyre, who took over in July 2024 after internal promotions, amid efforts to adapt investigative traditions to online formats.

Key Journalists and Columnists

Rosie DiManno has been a longtime at the Toronto Star, specializing in current affairs, , and investigative features since joining in 1978; her work often draws on on-the-ground reporting from conflict zones and major events, earning her recognition for gritty, unfiltered prose. Edward Keenan serves as the paper's city , focusing on Toronto's municipal , , and , with contributions emphasizing local governance critiques and community issues since assuming the role in the 2010s. Heather Mallick provides commentary on national and international topics, including and , through a lens often aligned with progressive advocacy, as featured prominently on the Star's opinion pages. Chantal Hébert, a , analyzes Canadian federal politics, dynamics, and electoral trends, drawing from her extensive background in broadcast and print media; her syndicated work appears regularly in the Star and reflects decades of coverage starting from the . Susan Delacourt, another , covers politics and policy with a focus on governance and leadership, authoring books on Canadian elections and contributing to the Star since the early 2000s. Among investigative journalists, David Bruser leads as Investigations Editor, overseeing probes into public accountability, environmental issues, and institutional failures, building on his prior reporting that exposed systemic problems in areas like urban development. Historical columnists include Gordon Sinclair, whose 1930s–1970s tenure featured blunt, nationalist commentary that boosted circulation through controversial takes on social norms and foreign policy, and Michele Landsberg, active from the 1970s, who advanced feminist perspectives in columns challenging gender roles and advocating for women's rights. Christie Blatchford, until her 2020 passing, contributed hard-hitting columns on courts, crime, and culture wars, often critiquing legal and social orthodoxies from a contrarian viewpoint during her Star years post-2011.

Cartoonists and Visual Contributors

The Toronto Star has employed editorial cartoonists since its early years, beginning with Harry Moyer, who was hired in 1908 and produced notable cartoons critiquing the Borden government and naval policy during the 1911 federal election. Les Callan joined in 1937, serving until 1961 except for a three-year interruption for military service in during the Second World War (1942–1945), where he created satirical strips like Monty and Johnny for Canadian forces publications; his work at the Star emphasized subtle over 24 years. Duncan Macpherson, the paper's most influential , worked from 1958 until his death in 1993, producing sharp, syndicated political commentary that appeared in seven other Canadian newspapers and earned him six National Newspaper Awards; he was the first appointed to the , and issued a in his honor in 2021. Beyond editorial work, the Star has featured comic strips as key visual elements, including Jimmy Frise's Birdseye Center (debuting in Star Weekly in 1920, depicting rural Canadian life and voted readers' favorite in a 1926 poll before Frise departed in 1947) and Walter Ball's Rural Route (launched in Star Weekly in 1956, becoming the publication's most-read feature within a month and running until 1968). The paper also carried the newspaper strip starting in 1939, created by , who modeled the fictional Daily Star after the Toronto Star itself. In contemporary times, Theo Moudakis and Patrick Corrigan serve as primary editorial cartoonists, contributing pointed political satire to the opinion section. Freelance contributors like Michael de Adder, based in Halifax, also provide cartoons periodically. Syndicated strips such as Blondie (since 1930) and (since 1950) continue in the Saturday edition, maintaining a tradition of visual humor. The Star's design team, including illustrators, received five print and three digital awards from the Society for News Design in 2024 for visual storytelling innovations.

Controversies and Criticisms

Specific Reporting Incidents and Backlash

In February 2015, the Toronto Star published a front-page feature titled "A wonder drug's dark side," which detailed anecdotal accounts of severe adverse effects allegedly linked to the , including twitching limbs, feeding tubes, and deaths, drawing primarily from unverified reports in the U.S. (VAERS). The article omitted substantial peer-reviewed evidence from studies since 2006 affirming the vaccine's safety and efficacy in preventing , with rare serious side effects occurring at rates no higher than background population levels. The story prompted swift backlash from experts, physicians, and scientists, who criticized it as fear-mongering that could erode confidence without causal tying symptoms to the . The Star's own public editor, Kathy English, condemned the reporting for failing to balance personal narratives against rigorous , questioning why alarms were raised despite conclusive data on the 's benefits outweighing minimal risks. Publisher acknowledged the paper "failed" readers by not giving proper weight to established science, leading to a full retraction on February 20, —15 days after publication—and replacement with a note emphasizing the 's proven safety record. This incident highlighted challenges in journalistic handling of scientific topics, where can overshadow empirical data, potentially influencing decisions. In October 2025, the City of publicly demanded over a dozen corrections to a Toronto Star article on municipal , alleging factual inaccuracies in its portrayal of local policies and administration under Mayor Patrick Brown. The response underscored tensions between the newspaper and political figures, with the city citing specific errors in data and context that misrepresented operational realities, though the Star's corrections process was invoked without immediate public resolution detailed. Other instances of scrutiny include internal backlash in when over 60 Toronto Star journalists signed a letter protesting a colleague's email deemed racially insensitive, prompting debates on standards but not tied to a specific flawed report. Such events reflect ongoing pressures on journalistic integrity amid ideological divides, though verifiable retractions remain infrequent compared to the HPV case.

Broader Charges of Bias and Journalistic Failures

Critics have frequently accused the Toronto Star of exhibiting a left-center , stemming from its foundational Atkinson Principles established by publisher Joseph E. Atkinson in , which prioritize social welfare, individual freedoms, and opposition to and , often aligning the paper with progressive causes and the in editorial endorsements. Independent media assessments reflect this orientation, with rating it left-center due to editorial favoritism toward liberal policies, while deems it center and Ground News lean left, though conservative commentators and reader surveys describe it as overtly liberal, citing unbalanced coverage of issues like , , and U.S. politics such as anti-Trump framing in articles. This perceived slant is attributed to selection of stories and framing that privileges left-leaning narratives, potentially undermining journalistic neutrality in a media landscape where empirical analysis reveals systemic progressive biases in Canadian outlets. Broader critiques extend to journalistic practices prioritizing over detached reporting, with some Star opinion pieces defending inherent toward established facts over , yet drawing fire for eroding public trust in objectivity. For instance, coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict has faced accusations of disproportionate emphasis on Palestinian casualties in headlines and language, with data from to November 24, 2023, showing slanted terminology compared to neutral reporting standards. Internal complaints of anti-Jewish in 2023 further highlighted tensions between choices and diverse viewpoints. A prominent example of journalistic failure occurred in February 2015, when the Star published an investigative piece alleging severe side effects from the HPV vaccine Gardasil based on anecdotal patient testimonies, prompting widespread criticism for fear-mongering and neglecting peer-reviewed evidence affirming the vaccine's safety and efficacy from bodies like Health Canada and the WHO. The paper's public editor rebuked the article for insufficient scientific context, leading to a full retraction on February 23, 2015, after it had already influenced public vaccine hesitancy; publisher John Honderich admitted the presentation failed to balance personal stories against data. While the Star maintains a corrections policy and has no failed fact checks in recent years per bias trackers, such incidents underscore charges of prioritizing narrative over rigorous verification, contributing to perceptions of declining credibility amid broader media trust erosion.

Societal Impact and Legacy

Political Influence and Cultural Role

The Toronto Star has exerted notable political influence through consistent editorial endorsements favoring centre-left parties, shaping voter sentiment particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, a critical battleground in Canadian elections. In federal elections from 1980 to 2021, it endorsed the Liberal Party 12 times and the New Democratic Party (NDP) once, in 2011. For Ontario provincial elections over a similar span, endorsements leaned heavily toward the Liberals (eight times), with two for the NDP, one for the Progressive Conservatives in 1981, and a mixed stance in 2022. These positions reflect a deliberate alignment with progressive policies, as circulation data positions the Star as Canada's largest daily newspaper, amplifying its reach among urban, left-leaning demographics that influence national outcomes. This influence traces to the Atkinson Principles, codified by publisher Joseph E. Atkinson in the mid-20th century, which prioritize , individual rights, and a strong central government pursuing equitable reforms. Under Atkinson's tenure from 1899 to 1948, the paper advocated for early social welfare measures, including unemployment insurance and old-age pensions, pressuring Liberal governments to adopt such policies and embedding a reformist ethos in Canadian political debate. The principles, enshrined in a shareholder trust to insulate , continue to guide coverage favoring interventionist approaches to inequality, though critics argue they institutionalize a left-center evident in story selection and framing. In its cultural role, the Star has functioned as a proponent of liberal causes amid a Canadian media environment skewed conservative by ownership concentrations elsewhere, fostering discourse on diversity, labor rights, and national identity. Its investigative reporting and campaigns, such as the Santa Claus Fund initiated in 1906 for destitute families, have reinforced a narrative of communal responsibility, influencing public attitudes toward philanthropy and social equity. Yet, assessments of its left-center editorial tilt highlight risks of selective emphasis on progressive issues, potentially marginalizing conservative perspectives in cultural narratives on topics like immigration and economic policy, as noted by bias evaluators prioritizing factual sourcing but critiquing ideological consistency. This duality underscores the paper's legacy as both a driver of reform and a subject of debate over balanced representation in shaping Canadian values.

Awards, Recognitions, and Declining Relevance

The Toronto Star has received multiple National Newspaper Awards, Canada's premier recognition for journalistic excellence, including six wins in 2025 for categories such as project of the year for its coverage of Alice Munro's sexual misconduct allegations. It earned 15 nominations in 2025 across 12 categories, reflecting ongoing competitive standing in investigative and multimedia reporting. Other honors include Online Journalism Awards for service journalism series and individual recognitions like the 2025 Hon. Edward Goff Penny Memorial Prize awarded to business reporter Ana Pereira for distinguished reporting. These accolades, administered by bodies like the National Newspaper Awards Foundation and News Media Canada, underscore periodic achievements in investigative depth and digital innovation amid a contracting industry. Despite such recognitions, the Toronto Star's parent company, Torstar Corporation, has faced persistent financial strain signaling broader erosion in print media viability. In the first quarter of 2020, Torstar reported a net loss of $23.5 million with revenue declining 20% year-over-year, driven by sharp drops in print advertising and subscriptions amid COVID-19 disruptions. By 2021, media business operating revenue fell to C$211.3 million from C$229.8 million the prior year, with total sales down 7%, as print ad sales continued to contract. These trends mirror industry-wide challenges, including a decade-long downward trajectory in daily subscriptions and advertising revenue, exacerbated by digital competition and fragmented audiences. Circulation and influence have similarly waned, with the Toronto Star's daily print run historically around 308,881 copies but subject to ongoing erosion as readers migrate to free online alternatives. Efforts to pivot to digital models, such as ending mobile subscriptions in favor of ad-supported tablet editions, highlight struggles to sustain paid readership amid declining paid models across legacy outlets. Criticisms of reduced original journalism output, coupled with reliance on syndicated content and industry mergers like proposed Torstar-Postmedia ties, point to diminished editorial autonomy and local impact. Job cuts and revenue pressures, including a 19% print ad drop in early 2020 quarters, have compounded perceptions of fading relevance in a media landscape increasingly dominated by non-traditional platforms.

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  46. https://www.thestar.com/business/surprise-60-million-bid-from-nordstar-locks-up-acquisition-of-torstar/article_e2132f92-dead-500e-a7a1-76752227941f.html
  47. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/torstar-metroland-nordstar-1.6968044
  48. https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/metroland-bankruptcy-smells-to-high-heaven
  49. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-postmedia-merger-torstar-nordstar/
  50. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-torstar-postmedia-merger-financial-debt/
  51. https://jacobin.com/2023/07/canada-news-media-toronto-star-postmedia-nordstar-journalism-corporate-takeover
  52. https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/05/the-toronto-stars-owner-once-dreamed-that-it-would-be-a-nonprofit-now-its-being-sold-to-a-private-equity-firm/
  53. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/how-the-postmedia-nordstar-merger-can-save-journalism
  54. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/07/06/Crucial-Test-Canadian-News-Media/
  55. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/public-editor/joseph-atkinsons-great-big-ideas/article_df7d6c66-7557-518f-8012-627e332f9e5d.html
  56. https://jamiebradburnwriting.wordpress.com/2018/06/15/a-history-of-newspaper-endorsements-in-federal-election-campaigns/
  57. https://www.readthemaple.com/election-endorsements/
  58. https://www.readthemaple.com/ontario-election-endorsements/
  59. https://ground.news/interest/the-toronto-star
  60. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0418-3
  61. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S146290111100150X
  62. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2021/canada
  63. https://www.allsides.com/news-source/toronto-star-media-bias
  64. https://www.biasly.com/blog/is-the-toronto-star-biased/
  65. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/carson-jerema-toronto-star-cbc-debase-themselves-with-poilievre-hit-job
  66. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/toronto-star-paints-a-skewed-picture-of-trudeaus-immigration-cuts
  67. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rahim-mohamed-toronto-stars-shree-paradkar-goes-full-hamas-apologist
  68. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/04/22/opinion/something-weird-happening-toronto-star
  69. https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/kevin-donovan/
  70. https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/this-court-cannot-ignore-the-coverup-ontario-judge-throws-out-murder-charges-over-maplehurst-jail/article_e376e29d-8720-41f3-aad5-322fe88ae218.html
  71. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/suspicion-murder-on-mount-olive/id1622407472
  72. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/how-legendary-star-reporter-dale-brazao-found-people-who-didn-t-want-to-be-found/article_e333a6ee-1101-5ef3-a244-915bceb92247.html
  73. https://ijb.utoronto.ca/impact/
  74. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/toronto-star-wins-six-national-newspaper-awards/article_d2af004e-b2ee-4871-baa7-70e9533cf7ab.html
  75. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/toronto-star-journalists-receive-caj-nominations-for-excellence-in-investigative-reporting/article_cf0acd98-9c0f-432c-bcc8-dc52373bc4e6.html
  76. https://www.biasly.com/blog/is-the-toronto-star-reliable/
  77. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/toronto-star-wins-best-scoop-investigative-among-other-recognitions-at-best-in-business-awards/article_1d8d8d80-4b90-425f-8c14-ee5f53e8d896.html
  78. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/
  79. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/
  80. https://www.canadaland.com/history-activist-columnists-toronto-star/
  81. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/
  82. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/donald-trump-did-it-again-hes-sunk-to-depths-i-never-imagined/article_adc3c349-0f66-42f5-abfc-52a1ca09e629.html
  83. https://honestreporting.com/toronto-stars-biased-contenta/
  84. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/the-big-debate/
  85. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/
  86. https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thestar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/4c/b4c50c9c-8256-11ee-adcd-3391e37c7d37/65527269cb460.pdf.pdf
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  88. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toronto-star-moving-behind-paywall-1.1386531
  89. https://financialpost.com/technology/toronto-star-launches-paywall-for-its-website
  90. https://pressgazette.co.uk/paywalls/casual-payments-for-news/
  91. https://www.pressreader.com/newspapers/n/toronto-star?srsltid=AfmBOopyFG0ryHmVLQ2WrXl2gXHfZ-8W-j9uZbqSIgPfqrXlZpPymdO3
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  93. https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/us/sales-drop-at-toronto-star-publisher-staff-decry-cost-cuts-idUSL3N0NT3PN/
  94. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/torstar-corporation-reports-first-quarter-2020-results-825521835.html
  95. https://www.thestar.com/business/torstar-digital-only-subscriptions-rise-to-23-400-in-third-quarter/article_c9cabeac-3dbd-5dd3-a5f9-80a046332062.html
  96. https://www.amediaoperator.com/news/the-toronto-star-is-cracking-300000-newsletters-subscribers-up-next-it-wants-a-million/
  97. https://voices.media/torstar-corporations-brandon-grosvenor-on-early-micropayment-experiments/
  98. https://www.statista.com/topics/2969/newspapers-in-canada/
  99. https://torstar.com/contact-us/
  100. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/the-toronto-star-unveils-its-new-newsroom-at-an-invitation-only-event/article_79f9d644-70b0-5613-a08f-e55c41d119ff.html
  101. https://www.thestar.com/news/toronto-stars-old-office-building-at-1-yonge-street-set-to-be-demolished/article_0e0f5b9c-b65c-11ef-bd80-fbb98d6105fb.html
  102. https://fsucardarchive.create.fsu.edu/items/show/14473
  103. https://www.printcan.com/news/2012/20120222692.shtml
  104. https://www.thestar.com/business/toronto-star-to-close-vaughan-printing-plant/article_ead21186-5095-5492-8f2d-879b9c50982d.html
  105. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReports/PDF/TSX_TSB_2019.pdf
  106. https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/toronto-star-layoffs-job-cuts_n_4280396
  107. https://financialpost.com/news/toronto-star-announces-newsroom-layoffs-downsizing-at-tablet-app-star-touch
  108. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/toronto-star-abandons-star-touch-tablet-app/article35473859/
  109. https://www.unifor87m.org/news-and-events/union-seeks-alternative-to-star-layoffs
  110. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64af7816aced0c3aee1aab96/t/6539ee1c102dab5644fd0eeb/1698295325195/TSNL-Guild%2B2022-2026%2BFINAL%2BOct%2B5%2B22_Signed.pdf
  111. https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Toronto-Star-EI_IE346756.11%2C23.htm
  112. https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Toronto-Star-salary-Reviews-EI_IE346756.0%2C12_KH13%2C19.htm
  113. https://broadcastdialogue.com/online-digital-media-news-95/
  114. https://ca.indeed.com/cmp/Toronto-Star/reviews
  115. https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-Toronto-Star-E346756-RVW84531611.htm
  116. https://atkinsonfoundation.ca/about/joseph-e-atkinson/
  117. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/legendary-toronto-star-publisher-honderich-dies-1.533658
  118. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-former-toronto-star-publisher-john-honderich-was-a-champion-for/
  119. https://www.thestar.com/business/we-re-inspired-jordan-bitove-becomes-toronto-star-publisher-and-paul-rivett-takes-over-as/article_607dfd06-f3d1-515f-b3e0-f6a2f9eafd48.html
  120. https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/grant%2520ellis/
  121. https://ca.linkedin.com/in/grant-b-ellis
  122. https://www.thestar.com/news/i-want-the-star-to-be-ambitious-and-fearless-meet-new-editor-in-chief-nicole/article_1bace950-3e33-11ef-9352-eb455fc5b41d.html
  123. https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/rosie-dimanno/
  124. https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/edward-keenan/
  125. https://www.nsb.com/speakers/chantal-hebert/
  126. http://www.thehonesttalk.ca/podcast/susan-delacourt-author-political-journalist-and-columnist-for-the-toronto-star/
  127. https://www.thestar.com/users/profile/david-bruser/
  128. https://www.thestar.com/anniversary/stars-editorial-cartoons-have-a-pointed-legacy/article_542c79fe-338f-52f7-a12a-3d1be9d826b5.html
  129. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-history-of-comics-at-the-toronto-star/article_1e59fe5e-a184-5acb-986e-d2bd2a73f428.html
  130. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/canada-post-celebrates-editorial-cartoonists-including-the-stars-duncan-macpherson-with-new-stamps/article_cc254920-c091-5ae9-be04-5af539b35592.html
  131. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorial-cartoons/
  132. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorial-cartoons/the-year-in-cartoons-2024-the-best-of-michael-de-adder/article_66de6500-b72f-11ef-84c3-8734de0e6c0c.html
  133. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/toronto-star-designers-and-illustrators-win-multiple-international-design-awards/article_162c7602-1148-11ef-b2ca-7be2a51c0e7b.html
  134. https://retractionwatch.com/2015/02/23/a-rare-event-toronto-star-retracts-fear-mongering-vaccine-story/
  135. https://www.vox.com/2015/2/10/8009973/toronto-star-hpv-vaccine
  136. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/25/botched-newspaper-expose-of-hpv-vaccines-dark-side-reveals-dark-side-of-news-business/
  137. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/public_editor/2015/02/13/public-editor-criticizes-the-stars-gardasil-story.html
  138. https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-how-a-major-newspaper-20150213-column.html
  139. https://globalnews.ca/news/1825017/toronto-star-did-not-give-proper-weight-to-science-in-hpv-vaccine-article-public-editor/
  140. https://www.facebook.com/5aabtvhd/posts/breaking-news-city-of-brampton-responds-to-toronto-star-news-article-seeking-ove/1116084764002964/
  141. https://www.thestar.com/site/forms/rf/
  142. https://www.canadaland.com/toronto-star-newsroom-rises-up-against-rosie-dimanno/
  143. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/public-editor/the-year-in-corrections-was-no-laughing-matter-public-editor/article_a399905e-22d8-5233-b513-bf4034f9639c.html
  144. https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2001/06/pondering-canadian-neo-conservatism/
  145. https://aml.ca/the-bias-in-media-bias-charts/
  146. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/the-news-media-is-biased-and-that-s-a-good-thing/article_118b8210-acf4-5e85-89fe-c3d9e11b20c6.html
  147. https://www.cjpmemap.ca/2024_05_07_jt_toronto_star
  148. https://www.reddit.com/r/canadaland/comments/18hpobl/amid_antijewish_bias_complaints_inside_the/
  149. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/public-editor/public-editor-criticizes-the-stars-gardasil-story/article_56f752dd-b14b-5c4f-b243-f342b94766ee.html
  150. https://www.thestar.com/trust/how-the-star-corrects-errors/article_060afbf2-7fb8-5f5f-bb73-55124f233fa2.html
  151. https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9mrfu4/hi_were_the_toronto_star_canadas/
  152. https://www.thestar.com/news/atkinson-series/the-atkinson-principles/article_522ff775-f110-5b92-872b-efade7b746aa.html
  153. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Toronto-Star
  154. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/world/canada/Toronto-star-sold.html
  155. https://nna-ccj.ca/toronto-star-wins-project-of-the-year-for-alice-munro-coverage/
  156. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/toronto-star-nominated-for-15-national-newspaper-awards/article_f0c47c01-cfe8-4ffe-9569-53bd0ffe3903.html
  157. https://cjf-fjc.ca/toronto-star-series-wins-online-journalism-award/
  158. https://nmc-mic.ca/2025/07/09/toronto-stars-ana-pereira-selected-as-winner-of-34th-annual-hon-edward-goff-penny-memorial-prize/
  159. https://awards.journalists.org/organizations/the-toronto-star/
  160. https://www.thestar.com/business/torstar-reports-23-5-million-loss-as-q1-revenue-falls-in-wake-of-covid-19/article_bd61f7c9-9882-503d-8708-3f7c31ab069d.html
  161. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/newspapers-finances-1.3541081
  162. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-popular-daily-newspapers-in-canada.html
  163. https://www.retaildive.com/ex/mobilecommercedaily/toronto-stars-ending-mobile-subscriptions-signals-decline-of-paid-model
  164. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/06/29/opinion/canadas-journalism-industry-bleeding-out
  165. https://nationalpost.com/news/torstar-corp-reports-244-million-loss-on-declining-newspaper-and-digital-revenues
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