What Is The Star's Bias? Political Leaning, Credibility, and Trust Score
The Star Overview and Political Bias
The Toronto Star is often characterized as Canada’s leading progressive voice, guided by the Atkinson Principles of social justice. Critics suggest it maintains a liberal bias, frequently aligning with the federal Liberal Party. Observers note its advocacy-style journalism on climate change, labor rights, and social welfare as distinctively left-of-center.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center |
| Estimated number of readers | 10,000,000 |
| Israel support | Mainstream liberal; generally supports a two-state solution |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Mass market / Progressive |
The Star History
Established in 1892 as The Evening Star, the paper survived early financial struggles under Joseph Atkinson’s leadership. Atkinson transformed it into a vehicle for social reform. It became Canada’s largest daily newspaper, known for investigative journalism and its longstanding rivalry with Toronto’s more conservative broadsheets throughout the 20th century.
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Who owns The Star?
In 2020, Torstar Corporation was acquired by Nordstar Capital LP. Following a partnership reorganization in 2022, ownership transitioned to Jordan Bitove. The publication is funded through a combination of digital and print subscriptions, as well as advertising, moving away from its long history as a family-controlled public company.