Toronto Star

The Star was created in 1892{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Toronto-Star |title=The Toronto Star | Canadian newspaper |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=February 15, 2019}} 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,{{Cite web |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=2177 |title=Profile – Hocken, Horatio Clarence |publisher=Parliament of Canada |work=Parlinfo |access-date=February 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711195922/https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=2177 |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |url-status=live}} 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{{sfn|Archer|1947|p=3}} as a silent partner.{{sfn|Sotiron|2005}} 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.{{efn|Owners of the Riordon Pulp and Paper Company, and investors in The Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Mail and the Toronto Evening News.{{sfn|Rutherford|1982}}}} After an extensive fundraising campaign among the Star staff, Maclean agreed to sell his interest to Hocken.{{sfn|Sotiron|2005}}{{sfn|Archer|1947|pp=4{{en dash}}5}}

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.{{sfn|Archer|1947|pp=5{{en dash}}6}} 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.{{sfn|Archer|1947|p=6}}

File:Joseph Edward Atkinson.jpg, {{circa|1910s}}. The Star became Toronto's largest newspaper under his leadership.]]

Joseph E. "Holy Joe" Atkinson, backed by funds raised by supporters of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, bought the paper on December 13, 1899.{{sfn|Archer|1947|p=6}} The supporters included Senator George Cox, William Mulock, Peter Charles Larkin and Timothy Eaton.{{Cite DCB |last=Otto |first=Stephen A. |title=Larkin, Peter Charles |volume=15 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/larkin_peter_charles_15E.html}} Atkinson became the controlling shareholder of the Star.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wR_-aSFyvuYC&q=joseph+e+atkinson+controlling+shareholder+of+the+star&pg=PA2368 |title=The Canadian Encyclopedia |page=2368 |author=James H. Marsh |year=1999 |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |isbn=9780771020995 |access-date=July 10, 2020}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/about/history-of-the-toronto-star.html |title=History of the Toronto Star |date=September 23, 2016 |website=thestar.com |language=en |access-date=February 29, 2020}} The newspaper's early opposition and criticism of the Nazi regime{{cite web |url=http://vhec.org/1936_olympics/the_nazi_state/a_canadian_observer |title=A Canadian Observer |author= |publisher=Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre |access-date=September 3, 2011 |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205135851/http://vhec.org/1936_olympics/the_nazi_state/a_canadian_observer |url-status=dead }} saw it become one of the first North American papers to be banned in Germany.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/anniversary/2017/11/01/125-years-of-speaking-out.html |title=125 years of speaking out |last=Phillips |first=Andrew |date=November 1, 2017 |work=Toronto Star |access-date=January 23, 2018}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ |title=Bienvenue au site Web Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Welcome to the Library and Archives Canada website |website=Collections Canada |date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=August 17, 2013 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706182206/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite news |last=Powell |first=Betsy |title=Atkinson's will kept Star's resolve |access-date=January 12, 2011 |date=November 6, 2002 |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/542589--atkinson-s-will-kept-star-s-resolve |location=Toronto |newspaper=Toronto Star |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023065908/http://www.thestar.com/article/542589--atkinson-s-will-kept-star-s-resolve |archive-date=October 23, 2012}} In 1949, the Province of Ontario passed the Charitable Gifts Act,{{efn|The {{Cite canlaw |short title=Charitable Gifts Act |abbr=R.S.O. |year=1990 |chapter=C.8 |link=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c08}}, repealed in 2009 by the {{Cite canlaw |short title=Good Government Act, 2009 |abbr=S.O. |year=2009 |chapter=33 |schedule=2 |link=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s09033}}}} barring charitable organizations from owning large parts of profit-making businesses,{{cite web |last=Bourgeois |first=Donald |title=The Charitable Gifts Act: A Commentary |access-date=January 12, 2011 |url=http://www.carters.ca/pub/bulletin/charity/2009/chylb174.htm}} that effectively required the Star to be sold.{{efn|But the Act's repeal in 2009 did not mean that charities in Ontario could then set up for-profit companies or pursue business activities.{{cite web |url=http://www.millerthomson.com/assets/files/newsletter_attachments/issues/Charities_and_Not-For-Profit_December_2009.pdf |title=Ontario Government passes Good Government Act that includes positive changes for charities |last1=Lazier |first1=Kate |last2=Manwaring |first2=Susan M. |date=December 2009 |publisher=Miller Thomson}}}}

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.{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Sandra |date=November 8, 2005 |title=Beland Honderich, 86 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/beland-honderich-86/article1130520/?page=all |newspaper=The Globe and Mail}} 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":{{cite web |title=Atkinson Principles |url=http://www.torstar.com/html/social-responsibility/Atkinson_Principles/index.cfm |publisher=Torstar |access-date=August 2, 2013}}

File:Banting-front-page Toronto Daily Star 1922.jpg's accomplishments with insulin]]

{{col div}}

• 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

{{col div end}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://torontoist.com/2014/03/historicist-an-invisible-giant/ |title=Historicist: An Invisible Giant |last1=Plummer |first1=Kevin |date=March 22, 2014 |website=torontoist.com}} 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. 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.

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.

In 1992, its printing plant was moved to the Toronto Star Press Centre at the Highway 407 & 400 interchange in Vaughan.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/09/06/torstars_vaughan_press_centre_celebrates_20th_anniversary.html |title=Torstar's Vaughan Press Centre celebrates 20th anniversary |work=Toronto Star|date=September 6, 2012 }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2007/05/28/you_spoke_we_listened_here_are_the_changes.html |work=Toronto Star |location=Toronto |title=You spoke, we listened: Here are the changes |date=May 28, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2010 |first=J. Fred |last=Kuntz}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2016/01/15/torstar-sell-vaughan-printing-plant-close-300-jobs-affected/ |title=Torstar to sell printing plant in Vaughan, close to 300 jobs affected |website=toronto.citynews.ca|date=January 15, 2016 }} The newspaper said the closure was effected so it could better focus on its digital outlets.{{cite news |url=https://torontosun.com/2016/01/15/torstar-to-sell-printing-plant-285-jobs-affected/wcm/48a2b4d1-a53f-4ce1-8b8a-8b782861d9c3 |title=Torstar lays off more than 300 production, editorial staff, selling staff |newspaper=Toronto Sun |last=Sagan |first=Aleksandra |date=January 15, 2016}}

In February 2018, the Toronto Star suspended its internship program indefinitely to cut its costs.{{cite web |url=https://www.canadalandshow.com/toronto-star-suspending-internship-programs-indefinitely/ |title=Toronto Star Suspending Internship Programs Indefinitely |work=Canadaland|date=February 13, 2018 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://j-source.ca/article/toronto-star-internship-program-unique/ |title=Why the Toronto Star internship program was unique |date=February 21, 2018 |work=J-Source}} In 2020, the internship program returned.{{Cite news|date=December 20, 2020|title=Toronto Star welcomes back internship program with seven young reporters|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/12/20/toronto-star-welcomes-back-internship-program-with-seven-young-reporters.html|access-date=December 28, 2021|issn=0319-0781}}

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%).{{cite news |title=Torstar hiring 20 reporters as it rebrands and revamps Metro Urban dailies across Canada |url=https://business.financialpost.com/telecom/media/torstar-hiring-20-reporters-as-it-rebrands-and-revamps-metro-urban-dailies |website=Financial Post |publisher=The Canadian Press}}{{cite web |last1=Healing |first1=Dan |title=StarMetro? Toronto Star publisher rebranding free daily newspapers across Canada – cites appetite for 'progressive voice' |url=https://calgaryherald.com/business/starmetro-toronto-star-publisher-rebranding-free-daily-newspapers-across-canada-cites-appetite-for-progressive-voice/wcm/e9d04fc7-4529-4ee2-a1f5-311938d8acdf |website=Calgary Herald |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=March 30, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Popplewell |first1=Brett |title=Inside the Toronto Star's Bold Plan to Save Itself |url=https://thewalrus.ca/inside-the-toronto-stars-bold-plan-to-save-itself/ |website=The Walrus |date=May 10, 2018 |access-date=March 30, 2019}} In October 2018, the Toronto Star acquired iPolitics, a political news outlet. It ceased to own the property in 2022.{{cite web |title=Tortar signs agreement to purchase political website iPolitics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/torstar-buys-ipolitics-1.4831392 |website=CBC |access-date=March 30, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Torstar to purchase iPolitics media outlet |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/torstar-to-purchase-ipolitics-media-outlet-693842521.html |website=Cision |access-date=March 30, 2019}}

On December 20, 2019, all StarMetro editions ceased publication.{{cite web |title=Torstar shutting down StarMetro papers across Canada |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/11/19/torstar-shutting-down-starmetro-papers-across-canada/ |website=CityNews |publisher=Rogers Digital Media. |date=November 19, 2019 |access-date=December 27, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Toronto Star shutting down StarMetro newspapers |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/toronto-star-star-metro-closing-1.5365326 |website=CBC.ca |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. |date=November 19, 2019 |access-date=December 27, 2019}}

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 {{CAD|52{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}}—making Torstar a privately held company.{{Cite news |last=The Canadian Press |author-link=The Canadian Press |date=May 26, 2020 |title=Torstar agrees to $52M sale to NordStar Capital |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/torstar-sale-nordstar-capital-1.5586033 |access-date=July 20, 2020}} The deal was expected to be approved by Torstar's shareholders and to close by the end of 2020.{{cite web |date=May 26, 2020 |title=Torstar to be sold, taken private in $52-million deal |url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9997810-torstar-to-be-sold-taken-private-in-52-million-deal/ |access-date=May 27, 2020 |publisher=Toronto.com}} Canadian Modern Media Holdings made an offer of $58{{nbsp}}million on July 9, 2020;{{Cite news |title=Surprise $60-million bid from NordStar locks up acquisition of Torstar |language=en |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/07/11/new-surprise-60-million-bid-from-nordstar-all-but-locks-up-acquisition-of-torstar.html |access-date=July 12, 2020}} NordStar subsequently increased its offer to $60{{Nbsp}}million, effectively ending the bidding war. The majority of shareholders voted in favour of the deal.{{Cite news |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ts/business/2020/07/21/nordstar-takeover-approved-by-torstar-shareholders.html |title=Shareholders have given a proposed $60 million takeover of the Toronto Star's publisher their seal of approval |work=St Catharines Standard |access-date=July 21, 2020 |language=en}} The takeover was approved by an Ontario judge on July 27, 2020.{{Cite news |title=Judge approves NordStar's $60-million takeover of Torstar – The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-judge-approves-nordstars-60-million-takeover-of-torstar |access-date=July 28, 2020 |website=www.theglobeandmail.com}} An appeal of the judgement by another prospective purchaser failed on July 31 when Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Penny dismissed the motion.{{cite web |url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202007311845CANADANWCANADAPR_C5897-1 |title=Torstar Corporation Announces Dismissal of Stay Motion in Connection with Arrangement with NordStar Capital LP |date=July 31, 2020 |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=August 1, 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/07/30/court-considers-temporary-hold-on-nordstar-takeover-of-toronto-star-publisher.html |title=NordStar takeover of Toronto Star publisher cleared to go ahead early next week |work=Toronto Star |access-date=August 1, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202007311845CANADANWCANADAPR_C5897-1 |title=Torstar Corporation Announces Dismissal of Stay Motion in Connection with Arrangement with NordStar Capital LP |date=July 31, 2020 |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=August 1, 2020 |quote=he Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court) has dismissed a motion for a stay of the final order}}

In November 2022, the newspaper moved its headquarters from the 1 Yonge Street to a new location on Spadina Avenue at Front Street.{{cite news |last1=Zwolinski |first1=Mark |title=Proudfoot Corner: Memories of 1 Yonge St. as Toronto Star prepares to move |url=https://www.thestar.com/initiatives/santa_claus_fund/2022/10/27/proudfoot-corner-memories-of-1-yonge-st-as-toronto-star-prepares-to-move.html |access-date=May 7, 2023 |work=thestar.com |date=November 4, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.thestar.com/about/contactus.html |website=The Toronto Star |access-date=May 7, 2023 |language=en-CA |date=February 9, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2021/12/29/the-stars-move-requires-us-to-rethink-what-our-office-should-be-post-pandemic.html|title=Opinion | the Star's move requires us to rethink what our office should be, post-pandemic|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=December 29, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Josh |title=Shopify confirms it no longer intends to expand to massive new Toronto office space, citing shift toward remote-first |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/12/14/shopify-confirms-it-no-longer-intends-to-expand-to-massive-new-toronto-office-space-citing-shift-toward-remote-first.html |website=thestar.com |access-date=May 7, 2023 |language=en |date=December 14, 2022 |quote=Several other companies have already moved into the Well, including the Star, which recently moved from its long-time office at 1 Yonge St.}}

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.Elke Winter, Us, Them and Others: Pluralism and National Identities in Diverse Societies (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 96. The paper has aligned itself over the years with the progressive "Atkinson principles" named for publisher Joseph E. Atkinson,Kenyon Wallace, [https://www.thestar.com/trust/2018/05/24/how-the-star-is-making-its-political-endorsements-more-transparent.html How the Star is making its political endorsements more transparent], Toronto Star (May 26, 2018). who was editor and publisher of the paper for 50 years.Tamar Harris, [https://www.thestar.com/anniversary/2017/11/04/through-constant-change-atkinson-principles-endure.html Through constant change, Atkinson Principles endure], Toronto Star (November 4, 2017). These principles included social justice and social welfare provision, as well as individual rights and civil liberties. In 1984, scholar Wilfred H. Kesterton described the Star as "perpetually indignant" because of its social consciousness. 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."

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." The paper was historically wary of American influence, 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.{{cite journal |first=Andrea M.L. |last=Perrella |title=Editorials and the Free Trade Agenda: Comparison of Law Press and the Toronto Star Quebec Under Free Trade: Making Public Policy in North America |journal=Quebec Under Free Trade: Making Public Policy in North America |editor=Guy Lachapelle |publisher=Presses de l'Université du Québec |date=1995 |pages=276–79}} The paper has been traditionally supportive of official bilingualism and maintaining Canadian unity in opposition to Quebec separatism.

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."{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Michael |date=August 27, 1985 |title=Stock deal ends talk of takeover |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19850827&id=haIkAAAAIBAJ&pg=2529,3244467&hl=en |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |page=A-3}} 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.

The advent of the National Post in 1998 shook up the Toronto newspaper market.{{Cite news |url=http://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/as-the-globe-turns/ |title=As the Globe turns – Macleans.ca |date=July 9, 2009 |work=Macleans |access-date=November 14, 2017}} In the upheaval that followed, editorial spending increased and there was much turnover of editors and publishers.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/02/black200702 |title=Black Mischief |last=Orth |first=Maureen |work=The Hive |access-date=November 14, 2017}}

In the 50 years to 1972, the Star endorsed the Liberal Party in each federal general election.Kathy English, [https://www.thestar.com/news/politics/federalelection/2008/10/11/why_do_newspapers_endorse.html Why do newspapers endorse?], Toronto Star (October 11, 2008). 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.

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). In the 2011 election, the Star endorsed the NDP under Jack Layton, 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2011/04/30/but_vote_strategically.html |title=But vote strategically |work=Toronto Star |date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321014354/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2011/04/30/but_vote_strategically.html |archive-date=March 21, 2014}} For the 2015 election, the Star endorsed the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau,{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/09/for-justin-trudeau-and-the-liberal-party-editorial.html |title=Toronto Star endorses Liberal leader Justin Trudeau for prime minister |work=Toronto Star |date=October 9, 2015}} and did so again in 2019{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2019/10/16/liberals-are-the-best-choice-for-canada.html |title=Liberals are the best choice for Canada |work=Toronto Star |date=October 16, 2019}} and 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/the-star-s-editorial-board-endorses-liberals-for-2021-federal-election/article_e66a7040-3654-5e04-9eb1-1ca63a69d833.html |title=The Star’s editorial board endorses Liberals for 2021 federal election |work=Toronto Star |date=September 19, 2021}} The Star endorsed the Liberals under Mark Carney for the 2025 federal election.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/in-a-time-of-crisis-mark-carney-is-the-steady-hand-canada-needs/article_aefe9436-1dfc-491a-93dd-bb285a23abb8.html |title=In a time of crisis, Mark Carney is the steady hand Canada needs |work=Toronto Star |date=April 26, 2025}}

In Toronto's non-partisan mayoral elections, the Star endorsed George Smitherman in 2010{{cite news |title=The Star's choices for Toronto mayor: George Smitherman |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/876268 |work=Toronto Star |date=October 17, 2010}} and John Tory in 2014,{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/10/21/john_tory_is_the_best_choice_to_lead_toronto_editorial.html |title=John Tory is the best choice to lead Toronto: Editorial |work=Toronto Star |date=October 21, 2014}} 2018,{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/10/19/john-tory-is-the-best-choice-for-toronto-now.html |title=John Tory is the best choice for Toronto now |work=Toronto Star |date=October 19, 2018}} and 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/john-tory-best-to-lead-toronto/article_ab142f68-235d-53de-af4d-e7f8e409153b.html |title=John Tory best to lead Toronto |work=Toronto Star |date=October 22, 2022}} The Star endorsed Ana Bailão in the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/ana-bail-o-is-the-best-choice-to-lead-toronto/article_a2236210-ebe6-5c84-b99c-ac79a735b0ca.html |title=Ana Bailão is the best choice to lead Toronto |work=Toronto Star |date=July 19, 2023}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/publiceditor/article/1098344 |title=Toronto Star Newsroom Policy and Journalistic Standards Guide |work=Toronto Star |date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=August 17, 2013}}

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

The Star launched its website in 1996. In October 2012, the Star announced its intention to implement a paywall on its website, thestar.com,{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2012/10/29/the_star_to_launch_digital_subscription.html |title=The Star to launch digital subscription |work=Toronto Star|date=October 29, 2012 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2013/08/13/toronto_star_launches_digital_subscriptions.html |title=Toronto Star launches digital subscriptions: Publisher |work=Toronto Star|date=August 13, 2013 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toronto-star-moving-behind-paywall-1.1386531 |title=Toronto Star moving behind paywall |date=August 13, 2013 |work=CBC News |access-date=February 18, 2019}} The Star removed its paywall on April 1, 2015,{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/03/07/note-to-readers-star-to-end-paid-digital-subscriptions-on-april-1.html |title=Note to Readers: Star to end paid digital subscriptions on April 1 |work=Toronto Star|date=March 7, 2015 }} and revived it in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/about/registration.html |title=Registration |work=Toronto Star|date=June 28, 2018 }}

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 {{Lang|fr|La Presse}} released in 2013, Star Touch is the first such app for any English-language news organization.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/09/15/toronto-star-makes-news-with-innovative-star-touch-tablet-app.html |title=Toronto Star makes news with innovative Star Touch tablet app |work=Toronto Star|date=September 15, 2015 }} In slightly over 50 days after launch, the app had reached the 100,000-download milestone.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/13/toronto-star-touch-hits-100000-downloads-have-you-tried-it.html |title=Toronto Star Touch hits 100,000 downloads. Have you tried it? |work=Toronto Star|date=November 13, 2015 }} The Android version was launched on December 1, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/30/toronto-star-touch-launches-on-android.html |title=Toronto Star Touch launches on Android |work=Toronto Star|date=November 30, 2015 }} It was discontinued in 2017.

The Star's current iOS app is rated 12+ by Apple's App Store guidelines{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/star-touch-by-toronto-star/id1026855048?mt=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005142335/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/star-touch-by-toronto-star/id1026855048?mt=8|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2015|title=iTunes|website=iTunes}} and the Android version is rated Mature 17+ by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.torontostar.startouch&hl=en|title=Google}}

File:Red post box here appears fuchsia! (27283651334).jpg

The Toronto Star has seen, like most Canadian daily newspapers, a decline in circulation. Its total circulation dropped by {{formatnum: {{#expr: abs(100 - (318763 / 409340 * 100)) round 0}}}} percent to 318,763 copies daily from 2009 to 2015.{{cite web |url=https://nmc-mic.ca/about-newspapers/circulation/daily-newspapers/ |title=Daily Newspaper Circulation Data |work=News Media Canada |access-date=December 16, 2017}}

{{image frame |width=440 |align=none |border=no |caption=Daily average total circulation (print and digital combined) which includes paid and unpaid copies{{cite web |url=https://nmc-mic.ca/about-newspapers/circulation/daily-newspapers/ |title=Daily Newspaper Circulation Data |work=News Media Canada |access-date=December 16, 2017}}|content=

{{ #invoke:Chart | bar chart

| height = 270

| width = 440

| group 1 = 409340:398745:374678:357612:360515:342527:318763

| colors = DarkCyan

| units suffix = Copies

| group names =

| x legends = 2009:2010:2011:2012:2013:2014:2015

}}

}}

{{multiple image|total_width=385|image1=The Star Building, erected 1878.jpg|alt1=|caption1=1905–1929|image2=TorontoStar3.jpg|alt2=|caption2=1929–1970|image3=Toronto-star.jpg|alt3=|caption3=1970–2022|header=Offices used by the Star}}

The Toronto Star has been located at several addresses since 1892.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/about/history-of-the-toronto-star.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=April 5, 2017 |title=History of the Toronto Star|date=September 23, 2016 }}

• 1892: 83 Yonge Street (shared with The Toronto World)
• 1896: 26–28 Adelaide Street West
• 1905: 18–20 King Street West
• 1929: 80 King Street West (Old Toronto Star Building)
• 1970: One Yonge Street
• 2022: 8 Spadina Avenue{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/industry-news/property-report/article-the-well-blends-redevelopment-with-a-historic-community-in-torontos/|title=The Well blends redevelopment with a historic community in Toronto's west end|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=January 3, 2023}}

{{Div col}}

• Joseph E. Atkinson (1899–1948)
• Joseph S. Atkinson (1948–1966)
• Beland Honderich (1966–1988)
• David R. Jolley (1988–1994)
• John Honderich (1995–2004)
• Michael Goldbloom (2004–2006)
• Jagoda Pike (2006–2008)
• Donald Babick (2008)
• John D. Cruickshank (2009–2016)
• John Boynton (2017–2020)
• Jordan L. Bitove (since 2020)

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Pierre Berton
• Tony Burman
• Peter Calamai
• Morley Callaghan
• June Callwood
• Greg Clark
• Jeremy Clarkson
• Erin Combs
• Daniel Dale
• Susan Delacourt
• Rosie DiManno
• Robyn Doolittle
• Milt Dunnell
• Joe Fiorito
• Graham Fraser
• Michael Geist
• Carol Goar
• Alison Gordon
• David Griffin{{cite news|title='Lucky Grif's' Luck Failed: Only One of Crew to Die|date=February 22, 1944|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-griffin-1944/166937800/}}
• Richard Gwyn
• Matthew Halton
• Tom Harpur
• Chantal Hébert
• Ernest HemingwayA collection of Hemingway's work in the Star was published as Dateline: Toronto
• W. A. Hewitt{{cite news|title=After 60 Years In Sport: 500 Sportsmen To Honor William "Billy" Hewitt|last=Sullivan|first=Jack|author-link=Jack Sullivan (journalist)|date=December 8, 1953|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=19|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-08-1953-2975367/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Sportsmen Honour W. A. (Billy) Hewitt at Dinner Tonight|last=Sullivan|first=Jack|author-link=Jack Sullivan (journalist)|agency=The Canadian Press|date=December 8, 1953|newspaper=The Kingston Whig-Standard|location=Kingston, Ontario|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97010768/hewitt-1953/}}{{free access}}
• Kim Hughes{{cite news |first=Kim |last=Hughes |title=The soundtrack of a generation |work=Toronto Star |date=May 18, 2008 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Books/article/426145 |access-date=September 28, 2010}}{{cite news |first=Kim |last=Hughes |title=They loved, lusted, lost |work=Toronto Star |date=July 8, 2007 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/233539 |access-date=September 28, 2010}}
• A. D. Kean
• Cathal Kelly
• Marc and Craig Kielburger
• Naomi Klein
• Faisal Kutty
• Michele Landsberg
• Gary Lautens
• Duncan Macpherson
• Linda McQuaig
• Earl McRae
• Heather Mallick
• Lou Marsh
• Peter C. Newman
• Cleo Paskal
• Angelo Persichilli{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harper-finds-new-communication-director-in-ranks-of-ethnic-media/article2148647/ |title=Harper finds new communication director in ranks of ethnic media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906110412/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harper-finds-new-communication-director-in-ranks-of-ethnic-media/article2148647/ |archive-date=September 6, 2011 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=August 31, 2011}}
• Jim Proudfoot
• Ben Rayner{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Cameron |title=Toronto's Star... Ben Rayner In a rockcritics.com interview |url=http://rockcriticsarchives.com/interviews/benrayner/benrayner.html |publisher=Rockcritics.com |access-date=September 8, 2013}}{{cite news |title=Ben Rayner |url=https://www.thestar.com/authors.rayner_ben.html |access-date=September 8, 2013 |newspaper=Toronto Star}}
• Ellen Roseman
• Oakland Ross
• Robert Service
• Haroon Siddiqui
• Gordon Sinclair
• Randy Starkman
• Walter Stewart
• Tanya Talaga
• Charles Templeton
• Ellie Tesher
• James Travers
• Thomas Walkom
• Claire Wallace
• Antonia Zerbisias
• Montague Birrell Black

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Walter Ball
• Sid Barron
• Jimmy Frise
• Duncan Macpherson
• Dušan Petričić
• Ben Wicks

{{Div col end}}

{{Portal|Canada|Ontario|Journalism}}

• Grant v Torstar Corp
• Media in Canada
• List of media outlets in Toronto
• List of newspapers in Canada
• List of the largest Canadian newspapers by circulation

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Archer |first=William L. |author-link=William Archer (Toronto politician) |date=1947 |title=Joe Atkinson's Toronto Star: The Genius of Crooked Lane |publisher=Montreal [Zeta Psi Fraternity] |url=https://archive.org/stream/joeatkinsonstoro00arch#page/n3/mode/2up |location=Montreal}}
• {{Cite DCB |last=Rutherford |first=Paul |title=Riordon (Riordan), John |volume=11 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/riordon_john_11E.html |year=1982}}
• {{Cite DCB |last=Sotiron |first=Minko |title=Maclean, William Findlay |volume=15 |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/maclean_william_findlay_15E.html}}{{sfn whitelist| CITEREFSotiron2005}}

• {{cite book |last=Harkness |first=Ross |title=J.E. Atkinson of the Star |year=1963 |location=Toronto |publisher=University of Toronto Press |oclc=1402965}}
• {{cite book |last=Templeton |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Templeton |title=Charles Templeton, an anecdotal memoir |chapter=Inside the Toronto Star |chapter-url=http://www.templetons.com/charles/memoir/chap5.html |access-date=February 13, 2010 |year=1983 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-7710-8545-1 |oclc=11158533 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/anecdotalmemoir0000temp}}
• {{cite web |last=Vincent |first=Trista |title=Manufacturing Concern :: Ryerson Review of Journalism |access-date=January 6, 2011 |date=March 1999 |url=http://www.rrj.ca/m3946/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327070356/http://www.rrj.ca/m3946/ |archive-date=March 27, 2012}}
• {{cite book |last=Walkom |first=Thomas L |title=Rae Days |url=https://archive.org/details/raedays0000walk |url-access=registration |year=1994 |location=Toronto |publisher=Key Porter Books |isbn=978-1-55013-598-5 |oclc=30669140}}

{{Commons category|Toronto Star}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto-star Toronto Star] – The Canadian Encyclopedia
• [https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Toronto-Star Toronto Star] – Encyclopædia Britannica
• [https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Erp=20&N=38537+38788&view=grid Toronto Star photograph archive] – Toronto Public Library

{{Torstar}}

{{Canadian journalism}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1892 establishments in Ontario

Category:Daily newspapers published in Ontario

Category:Newspapers published in Toronto

Category:Newspapers established in 1892

Category:Torstar publications