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Toronto Star: the story on HearLore | HearLore
— Ch. 1 · Founding And Early Struggles —
Toronto Star.
~5 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
In 1892, a group of striking printers and writers in Toronto formed the Evening Star. Horatio Clarence Hocken led this effort alongside Jimmy Simpson, both future mayors of the city. The newspaper first appeared on presses owned by the Toronto World, which held a 51 percent interest as a silent partner for just two months. Rumours circulated that William Findlay Maclean, owner of the World, might sell his stake to the Riordon family. Staff members launched an extensive fundraising campaign to buy out Maclean's interest before he could act. Hocken sold the paper within a year, and several owners followed in rapid succession. By 1896, railway entrepreneur William Mackenzie had purchased the struggling publication. Editors Edmund E. Sheppard and Frederic Thomas Nicholls moved operations into a building shared with Saturday Night magazine. The early years were marked by financial instability and frequent changes in leadership.
The Atkinson Era Principles
Joseph E. Atkinson bought the paper on the 13th of December 1899, backed by funds from supporters of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. Senator George Cox, William Mulock, Peter Charles Larkin, and Timothy Eaton were among those who helped finance the purchase. Atkinson became controlling shareholder and editor until his death in 1948. Under his direction, the Star frequently practiced yellow journalism, featuring heavy doses of crime and sensationalism alongside advocacy for social change. The newspaper was one of the first North American papers banned in Germany due to its opposition to the Nazi regime. Atkinson championed causes like old age pensions, unemployment insurance, and health care. His friendship with Prime Minister Mackenzie King influenced Canadian social policy development. Before dying in 1948, Atkinson transferred ownership to a charitable organization mandated to continue his liberal tradition. In 1949, Ontario passed the Charitable Gifts Act, forcing the sale of the paper. Five trustees circumvented this law by buying it themselves and swearing before the Supreme Court of Ontario to uphold what became known as the Atkinson Principles: strong national unity, social justice, individual liberties, community engagement, workers' rights, and government's necessary role.
Horatio Clarence Hocken and Jimmy Simpson formed the Evening Star, which later became the Toronto Star. These two men were future mayors of Toronto who led a group of striking printers and writers to establish the publication.
When did Joseph E. Atkinson purchase the Toronto Star?
Joseph E. Atkinson bought the paper on the 13th of December 1899 with financial backing from supporters of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier. He served as controlling shareholder and editor until his death in 1948.
What happened to the Toronto Star headquarters location in 2022?
Headquarters relocated from 1 Yonge Street to Spadina Avenue at Front Street in November 2022. The original building at 80 King Street West was demolished earlier to make room for First Canadian Place.
How many staff members were laid off when Torstar closed its Vaughan printing presses?
The closure of the Vaughan printing presses on the 15th of January 2016 resulted in layoffs of all 285 staff members at that plant. Production was subsequently outsourced to Transcontinental Printing.
Which political party has the Toronto Star endorsed most frequently since 1968?
Between 1968 and 2019, the newspaper supported the Liberal Party eleven times out of multiple federal elections. It also backed the New Democratic Party twice and the Progressive Conservative Party twice during this period.
In 1971, the newspaper changed its name to The Toronto Star and moved to an International-style office tower at One Yonge Street near Queens Quay. The original building at 80 King Street West was demolished to make room for First Canadian Place. A Sunday edition launched in 1973, followed by a morning edition in 1981. By 1992, printing operations shifted to the Toronto Star Press Centre located at the Highway 407 and 400 interchange in Vaughan. The logo was updated in September 2002, dropping "The" from the masthead. During the Northeast blackout of 2003, the Star printed copies at a press in Welland, Ontario. On the 28th of May 2007, the paper unveiled a redesigned format with larger type, narrower pages, fewer articles, and more focus on local news. This format reverted on the 1st of January 2009. In April 2018, Torstar expanded local coverage of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Halifax through rebranded daily newspapers called StarMetro. These editions ceased publication on the 20th of December 2019. In November 2022, headquarters relocated from 1 Yonge Street to Spadina Avenue at Front Street.
Digital Transformation Challenges
The Star launched its website in 1996, marking its entry into digital media. In October 2012, management announced plans to implement a paywall effective the 13th of August 2013. Readers with home delivery received free access to all content, while others could read ten articles per month without subscription. The paywall was removed on the 1st of April 2015, then revived again in 2018. A tablet app named Star Touch debuted on the 15th of September 2015, for iPad users only. It reached 100,000 downloads in just over 50 days before an Android version arrived on the 1st of December 2015. Circulation figures showed decline, dropping by an unspecified percentage to 318,763 copies daily between 2009 and 2015. On the 15th of January 2016, Torstar confirmed closure of its Vaughan printing presses, outsourcing production to Transcontinental Printing. This decision led to layoffs of all 285 staff members at the plant. In February 2018, the newspaper suspended its internship program indefinitely to reduce costs, though it returned in 2020.
Political Endorsements And Influence
For fifty years until 1972, the Star endorsed the Liberal Party in every federal general election. Between 1968 and 2019, the paper supported the Liberals eleven times, the New Democratic Party twice, and the Progressive Conservative Party twice. Exceptions occurred in elections held in 1972, 1974, 1979, and 2011. During the 2011 race, the Star backed NDP leader Jack Layton but also advised strategic voting for progressive candidates best positioned to defeat Stephen Harper's Conservatives. The paper endorsed Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party in 2015, 2019, and 2021. For the upcoming 2025 federal election, endorsements were given to Mark Carney. At the municipal level, George Smitherman received support in 2010, while John Tory was backed in 2014, 2018, and 2022. Ana Bailão won endorsement during the 2023 mayoral by-election. Historically, the Star maintained a centrist yet centre-left editorial stance, aligning with progressive values including social welfare provision and civil liberties. It expressed concern over American influence during debates on free trade agreements and traditionally supported official bilingualism and Canadian unity against Quebec separatism.
Ownership Transitions And Sales
On the 26th of May 2020, NordStar Capital acquired Torstar after its board voted to sell the company. This transaction made Torstar a privately held entity once more. Canadian Modern Media Holdings submitted an offer of $58 million on the 9th of July 2020. NordStar increased its bid to $60 million, effectively ending the bidding war. Most shareholders approved the deal, which received judicial approval from Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Penny on the 27th of July 2020. An appeal filed by another prospective buyer failed on July 31 when the court dismissed the motion. The acquisition marked a significant shift in ownership structure following decades of public trading. Prior to this sale, Torstar had operated as part of larger media conglomerates. The new ownership aimed to stabilize operations amid declining print circulation and rising digital competition. Management indicated plans to focus resources on expanding online platforms while maintaining core journalistic standards established under Atkinson's legacy.