Toronto Star
| The Toronto Star | |
|---|---|
|
|
| description | daily newspaper |
| language | English |
| First edition | 1892 |
| Frequency of publication | working days |
| Sold edition | 400,000 copies |
| Editor-in-chief | J. Fred Kuntz |
| editor | John Cruickshank |
| Web link | thestar.com |
| ISSN |
0319-0781 |
| ZDB | 82293-0 |
The Toronto Star is a Canadian daily newspaper . It is the country with the highest circulation, although the print edition is distributed almost exclusively in Ontario , and is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. , a division of the Star Media Group , which in turn is part of the Torstar Corporation .
history
The Star (originally known as The Evening Star and The Toronto Daily Star ) was founded on November 3, 1892 by striking printers and journalists for the Afternoon News . In its first few years, the new paper only had a small print run. From 1899 until his death in 1948 Joseph "Holy Joe" Atkinson was the editor , he developed the paper into a successful daily newspaper.
Atkinson was very socially conscious. He fought for many causes associated with the modern welfare state : old age pensions , unemployment insurance, and health care . For example, he has been described as a radical in the best sense of the word. "About the star , the same source continues:" The star was unique among North American newspapers in its constant, permanent defense of the interests of the common people. Atkinson's friendship with the Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King had a strong influence on the development of Canadian social policy. "
But Atkinson was also a shrewd businessman who became the star's main shareholder and amassed considerable personal fortune. The Toronto Daily Star has often been criticized for practicing tabloid journalism during the period. For decades, the newspaper's reporting was characterized not only by a strong zeal to push through social changes, but also by sensational reports.
The early opposition and criticism of the National Socialist regime in the German Reich led to Toronto Star becoming the first North American newspaper to be banned in Germany.
Since the mid-fifties, the star has increasingly sought the readers' respect, by raising professional standards and avoiding the sensationalism of previous years. He hired some of the most respected journalists in the country and defended the expansion of the welfare state.
In 1971 the Toronto Daily Star was renamed the Toronto Star and moved to a modern office tower on Yonge Street and Queen's Quay. The old newspaper building at 80 King Street West was demolished. Originally the new building had the printing machines. In 1992 the print shop was relocated from the city to Vaughan .
On September 5, 2006, the Star launched a free newspaper in PDF format called Star PM , which can be downloaded from the newspaper's website every weekday from 3:30 am. On May 28, 2007, the star introduced a new design for a newspaper that included larger font, narrower pages, fewer and shorter articles, more weight on local news and less weight on international news, columns, and opinion pieces.
Atkinson's principles
Shortly before his death in 1948, Atkinson donated the newspaper to a charitable organization with the task of continuing the paper's liberal tradition. Ontario's Conservative government enacted a law prohibiting charities from operating much of the for-profit business. This law required the star to be sold . The charity's five trustees circumvented the law by buying the newspaper themselves and swearing in the Ontario Supreme Court to stand up for Atkinson's tenets:
- a strong, united and independent Canada
- social justice
- Civil rights
- Commitment to the community and to the citizens
- workers' rights
- the necessary role of government.
The descendants of the original owners, known as the "Five Families," still have the voting rights in Torstar and the Atkinson Principles still run the paper today. Recent editorials have headed “Justice for the Deaf” and “Public Policy Increases Poverty”. In February 2006, Star Media columnist Antonia Zerbisias wrote on her blog : “We all have the Atkinson Principles - and their multicultural values - tattooed on our asses. That's fine by me! At least we are open about our values, and they almost always work for building a better Canada. ” (Source?)
Political position of the editorial team
Liberal and proud, the star positions itself in the left-of-center of Canada's political landscape. The exact position in the political spectrum - especially in relation to the largest competitor, The Globe and Mail - is being discussed intensively. The paper was a voice of Canadian nationalism for a long time, as late as the 1980s it rejected free trade with the US and only recently expressed concern about the increasing US takeovers of Canadian companies.
Readers are sometimes surprised by the editorial comments. The star was an early opponent of the Iraq war and largely criticized George W. Bush's policies . However, Canadian participation in the US continental missile defense program was supported. More recent editorials denounced political correctness at Canadian universities and opposed majority voting .
The paper had almost always supported the Liberal Party of Canada . In the 2006 federal elections, the Star was the only major daily newspaper that still supported the Liberals; many of the other major papers went over to the Conservatives. The star never actually supported the social-democratic New Democratic Party , although he came close in 1990, to do so in the provincial elections. Traditionally, the newspaper supported the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in many provincial elections from the 1940s to the 1980s.
This means that today few major newspapers are further to the left than the star . But the journalists of the paper avoid a clear partiality for radical social changes, they prefer a gradual reform, which is accompanied by serious appeals for social compassion. In the recent past, series have focused on poverty and multiculturalism. Supporters praise the star's continued commitment to its founding principles.
Critics, on the other hand, refer to the newspaper as "the only paper in the world published by a dead man" (a mocking nod to the Atkinson Principles) or target "crybaby" reports that highlight the plight of the poor and the oppressed draw the public. Some also accuse her of being a mouthpiece for the Liberal Party. In recent years, some critics have even revived an old abuse, namely that of the Red Star ( Red Star ).
Characteristics
The Star is the only Canadian newspaper that employs an ombudsman . Other special features include:
- a body whose members write articles about their opinions, which sometimes criticize the newspaper,
- a reporter for immigrants,
- Charity campaigns soliciting participation from readers
- a full page of letters a day,
- more comprehensive coverage of poverty and social issues than any other Canadian newspaper,
- an annual competition honoring Toronto's best employees.
The star tries to win as many readers as possible instead of attracting one group of readers at the expense of another. He publishes specials for Chinese New Year and Gay Pride Week, as well as regular articles on condominium and shopping.
Competitive position
With four conventional daily newspapers and two free newspapers in an agglomeration of around 5.5 million people, Toronto is one of the most competitive newspaper cities in North America . The introduction of the National Post in 1998 shook the market up. In the ensuing upheaval, editorial spending increased and many journalists were hired or fired. Readers, advertisers and reporters benefited from the tougher competition, but shareholders hardly benefited. Toronto's newspapers are already having to carry out the large-scale layoffs that most other North American newspapers have already had to do.
Unlike some of its competitors, the Toronto Star has been profitable for most of the recent past. The newspaper became a must for most advertisers. Some of the competing papers are constantly losing money, while others are only marginally profitable. The star has long been criticized for its mass sales at low prices.
But the distance is decreasing and you have to accept some losses. In 2006, numerous financial analysts voiced their dissatisfaction with the star and lowered their recommendations for shares in parent company Torstar . In October 2006 the publisher and the editor-in-chief of the star were replaced, in May 2007 a newly designed sheet appeared (see above).
editor
- 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 Cruickshank (2009-present)
Well-known columnists
Others
Joe Shuster , one of Superman's two creators , worked as a newsboy for the star in the 1920s . Shuster named Clark Kent's newspaper - The Daily Star - after the Toronto Daily Star . The name of Kent's newspaper was later changed to The Daily Planet .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ J. Fred Kuntz: "You spoke, we listened: Here are the changes," Toronto Star, May 28, 2007