Joseph E. Atkinson - Toronto Star

Toronto Star

In 1899, Atkinson was asked to become managing editor of the Montreal Star, then the largest English-language newspaper in Canada. The paper's conservative viewpoint clashed with Atkinson's liberal beliefs, and while he was considering the offer, Atkinson was asked by a group of supporters of Wilfrid Laurier, the Liberal prime minister of Canada, if he would become publisher of the Toronto Evening Star. The group included Senator George Cox, William Mulock, and Timothy Eaton. Mulock and most other members of the group wanted the paper to be the voice of the Liberal party, but Atkinson refused to take the job on those terms, insisting that he be given full control over newspaper policy, that the Star be run in the best interests of the paper and not of the Liberal party. Atkinson travelled to Ottawa and successfully appealed to Laurier for support. Atkinson also insisted that 40 percent of his salary be paid in stock at par value and that he be given the opportunity to become majority owner. After some initial opposition, the ownership group accepted those terms.

The group took ownership of the paper on December 13, 1899. Shareholders formally approved the hiring of Atkinson five days later, with his employment backdated to start December 13. Atkinson's name first appeared in the masthead of the December 21 edition. His task was to save a failing newspaper, competing in a conservative city with six daily newspapers. Atkinson succeeded in turning the fortunes of the paper around and by 1913 it had the largest circulation of any Toronto newspaper. He continued to run the Star until his death in 1948 at the age of 82.