Toronto Star

==History==
The ''Star'' was created in 1892<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Toronto-Star |title=The Toronto Star &#124; Canadian newspaper |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> along with another future mayor, [[James Simpson (Canadian politician)|Jimmy Simpson]].

The ''Star'' was first printed on ''[[The Toronto World|Toronto World]]'' presses, and at its formation, ''The World'' owned a 51 percent interest in it{{sfn|Archer|1947|p=3}} as a [[wikt:silent partner|silent partner]].{{sfn|Sotiron|2005}} That arrangement only lasted for two months, during which time it was rumoured that [[William Findlay Maclean|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 (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 (magazine)|Saturday Night]]''.{{sfn|Archer|1947|p=6}}

===Under Atkinson===
[[File:Joseph Edward Atkinson.jpg|thumb|[[Joseph E. Atkinson]], {{circa|1910s}}. The ''Star'' became Toronto's largest newspaper under his leadership.<ref name=canen/>]]
[[Joseph E. Atkinson|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 [[George Albertus Cox|Senator George Cox]], [[William Mulock]], [[Peter Charles Larkin]] and [[Timothy Eaton]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Atkinson became the controlling [[shareholder]] of the ''Star''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The newspaper's early opposition and criticism of the [[Nazi Party|Nazi regime]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vhec.org/1936_olympics/the_nazi_state/a_canadian_observer |title=A Canadian Observer |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |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 }}</ref> saw it become one of the first North American papers to be [[Censorship in Nazi Germany|banned in Germany]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Atkinson had a social conscience. He championed many causes that would come to be associated with the modern [[welfare state]]: [[old age pension]]s, [[Unemployment benefits|unemployment insurance]], and [[health care]]. The [[Government of Canada]] Digital Collections website describes Atkinson as:
<blockquote>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 [[William Lyon Mackenzie King|Mackenzie King]], the [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister]], was a major influence on the development of Canadian social policy.<ref>{{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 }}</ref></blockquote>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>}}

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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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":<ref>{{cite web |title=Atkinson Principles |url=http://www.torstar.com/html/social-responsibility/Atkinson_Principles/index.cfm |publisher=[[Torstar]] |access-date=August 2, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Banting-front-page Toronto Daily Star 1922.jpg|thumb|Front page of the ''Star'' in 1922, covering [[Frederick Banting]]'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}}
These principles continue to affect the ''Star''{{'}}s editorial stances. In February 2006, ''Star'' media columnist [[Antonia Zerbisias]] wrote on her blog:
<blockquote>Besides, we are the ''Star'' which means we all have the Atkinson Principles—and its multi-culti values—tattooed on our butts. Fine with me. At least we are upfront about our values, and they almost always work in favour of building a better Canada.<ref>{{cite web |first=Antonia |last=Zerbisias |author-link=Antonia Zerbisias |title=Kartoon Kontroversy Kontinues |url=http://thestar.blogs.com/azerb/2006/02/kartoon_kontrov.html |date=February 20, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323061555/http://thestar.blogs.com/azerb/2006/02/kartoon_kontrov.html |archive-date=March 23, 2006}}</ref></blockquote>

====Other early media ventures====
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 (AM)|CFCA]], broadcasting on a [[wavelength]] of 400 [[metre]]s (749.48&nbsp;kHz); its coverage was complementary to the paper's reporting.<ref name="Plummer2014">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[watt]]s.<ref name="Plummer2014" /> The ''Star'' would continue to supply sponsored content to the CRBC's CRCT station—which later became CBC station [[CBLA-FM|CBL]]—an arrangement that lasted until 1946.<ref name="Plummer2014" />

===1971–present===
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 (Toronto)|Queens Quay]]. The original [[Old Toronto Star Building|''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.<ref name=canen/>

In 1992, its printing plant was moved to the Toronto Star Press Centre at the [[Ontario Highway 407|Highway 407]] & [[Ontario Highway 400|400]] interchange in [[Vaughan]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In September 2002, the logo was changed, and "The" was dropped from the masthead. During the [[Northeast blackout of 2003|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 (company)|Transcontinental Printing]], leading to the layoff of all 285 staff at the plant, as Transcontinental had its own existing facility, also in Vaughan.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The newspaper said the closure was effected so it could better focus on its digital outlets.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
 
In February 2018, the ''Toronto Star'' suspended its internship program indefinitely to cut its costs.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Long a source of Canada's next generation of journalists, the paid positions were seen by journalists and programme alumni as a vital part of the national industry, and their suspension, a sign of its continuing decline.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2020, the internship program returned.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 (newspaper)|StarMetro]]'', which was a joint venture between Torstar (90%) and Swedish media company [[Metro International]] (10%).<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> In October 2018, the ''Toronto Star'' acquired [[iPolitics]], a political news outlet. It ceased to own the property in 2022.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

On December 20, 2019, all ''StarMetro'' editions ceased publication amid the popularity and resultant growth of news apps on mobile devices.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The deal was expected to be approved by Torstar's [[shareholder]]s and to close by the end of 2020.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Canadian Modern Media Holdings made an offer of $58{{nbsp}}million on July 9, 2020;<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> NordStar subsequently increased its offer to $60{{Nbsp}}million, effectively ending the bidding war.<ref name=":0" /> A vast majority of shareholders subsequently voted in favour of the deal.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The takeover was approved by an Ontario judge on July 27, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Judge approves NordStar's $60-million takeover of Torstar – The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/business/article-judge-approves-nordstars-60-million-takeover-of-torstar/?__twitter_impression=true |access-date=July 28, 2020 |website=www.theglobeandmail.com}}</ref> An appeal of the judgement by another prospective purchaser failed on July 31 when Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Penny dismissed the motion.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The deal was expected to close during the following week.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

In November 2022, the newspaper moved its headquarters from the [[One Yonge Street|Toronto Star Building]] located on Yonge Street to a new location on [[Spadina Avenue]] at Front Street.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> <ref name="thestar.com">{{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 &#124; the Star's move requires us to rethink what our office should be, post-pandemic|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=December 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{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.}}</ref>