As a member of the Trust Project, a global consortium of news companies committed to transparency standards that help audiences more easily assess the quality and credibility of digital journalism, the Star is committed to helping its audiences on all platforms more easily distinguish news from opinion, and news and editorial information from advertising and other forms of paid content.
This glossary provides definitions for the various types of news and opinion content and, following that, for the various forms of paid content published online and in the newspaper.
Drawing a clear line between news and opinion has long been one of the Toronto Star's core values. Broadly defined, news is based on the impartial reporting of facts while opinion is based on personal interpretation and the judgement of facts.
News content is verified information based on the impartial reporting of facts, either observed by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. News reports do not include the opinion of the author.
Analysis: A critical or contextual examination of an important and topical issue based on factual reporting. It provides an explanation of the impact or meaning of news events and draws on the authority and expertise of the writer. Analysis articles do not contain the author’s opinions.
Investigation: In-depth reporting in the public interest that reveals wrongdoing and/or systemic problems that holds those in power accountable and promotes positive change.
Explainer: Journalism that provides readers with the background knowledge they need to help them understand the how and why of events or issues.
Fact Check: A form of accountability journalism where reporters test the veracity of statements and/or assertions using a variety of credible, authoritative sources to root out disinformation.
Opinion articles are based on personal interpretation and judgment of facts. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views, subject to standards of taste and laws of libel including views directly contrary to the editorial views of the Star.
Editorial: An article that presents a point of view reflecting the news organization's position on an issue of public interest. Editorials are not meant to be a neutral presentation of the facts. They are written by journalists who are expressing the view of the news organization. As an editorial serves to present the company’s voice, there is no individual byline.
Opinion: Articles based on the author’s interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. Opinion articles include columns written by staff and commentary from non-staff contributors. Opinion journalists have wide latitude to express their own views including views directly contrary to the news organization's editorial views, as long as they fall within the boundaries of taste and laws of libel.
Advice: An advice article reflects the opinion of the author who provides guidance or direction on a topic based on their expertise as well as their personal interpretations and judgments of facts.
Blog: An online journal updated regularly by a journalist or editorial department that supplements news coverage. Blogs are usually informal or conversational in style and may reflect a writer’s opinions, subject to the rights and responsibilities of fair comment.
First Person: Narratives exploring an author’s insights, observations or thoughts based on that individual’s personal experience and opinions.
Readers’ letters: A selection of letters written to the Star by readers expressing a point of view, usually concerning a recently published article or current event.
Review: A critical assessment of the merits of a subject, such as art, film, music, television, food and literature. Reviews are based on the writer’s informed/expert opinion.
The Star is committed to the principle that our audiences should not be confused about the distinction between our journalism – governed by our journalistic guidelines – and our advertising and other content driven by commercial interests. All commercial content is clearly labelled with one of the following:
Supported: Produced with financial support from an organization or individual, yet not approved by the underwriter before publication. Articles are held to strict journalistic standards but are funded by entities interested in being associated with or expanding attention to a particular topic.
Sponsored: Produced on behalf of an organization or individual that has paid the news provider for production and/or approved publication. It does not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism because a sponsor has been involved in production or review before publication.
Advertisment: Supplied by an organization or individual that has paid the news provider for its placement. As a result, while it may be written in the style of the publication, it is not impartial journalism.
Partner Content: Produced in partnership with an organization or individual that has been involved in either the production or review of content before publication. Therefore, the content may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
Our site occasionally uses affiliate links which means that the Star occasionally earns a small commission when a reader clicks on a link and purchases a product or service that we’ve featured. Affiliate revenue is a small percentage of commission shared between retailers, publishers and affiliate networks that connect them. The Star works with third-party affiliates Shopify, Amazon, and aggregator Skimlinks. Skimlinks has a relationship with many retailers and other publishers. When we include a product link in a piece of content, Skimlinks automatically places tracking code to the retailer link. When a reader clicks on an affiliate link, the tracking code places a cookie on the reader’s device that confirms if the reader makes a purchase from the retailer’s website. Skimlinks attributes a commission from the sale to the Star. If you do not want Skimlinks to store data about the websites you visit, the links you click and the merchants you buy from, you can opt out here.