Toronto Star, February 4th, 2014

Toronto Star Front Page

The following is an analysis of the front page of my local newspaper, the Toronto Star. 

Benjamin Chacon

Security officials defend spy tactics

This article is about the current controversy surrounding Communications Security Establishment Canada’s (CSEC) alleged tracking of Canadian internet users who logged in through wireless access points at Canadian airports. CSEC is prohibited by law from targeting Canadians or anyone in Canada without a judicial warrant.

-Why does this story belong on the front page?

Given the story’s weight and timeliness, I think it makes perfect sense that it be featured on the front page of the Toronto Star. Furthermore, it’s a matter of national significance that CSEC is collecting information about Canadian citizens.

-What grabbed my attention?

There isn’t anything very attention grabbing about this article. It serves as a recap of the Senate national defense committee hearing which took place on Monday. 

-Is there any opinion?

I didn’t notice any opinion in the article. It seems rather unbiased.

Home prices in for a slide next year; TD predicts

This article serves as a recap of a recent report by TD Economics which states that housing market prices in Toronto and Vancouver are expected to experience a gradual downturn by 2015.

-Why does this story belong on the front page?

I don’t know very much about the Canadian housing market—I haven’t even started to think about buying my first home. With that said, this story is likely on the front page because (1) it’s local news, and (2) it’s probably relevant to many.

-What grabbed my attention?

There isn’t anything very attention grabbing about this article. Some of the stats were interesting, i.e. that Vancouver and Toronto make up 40% of Canada’s housing market, etc.

-Is there any opinion?

I didn’t notice any opinion in the article. It simply recaps the TD Economics report and pulls in some quotes from a few Canadian economists.

Court orders children be taken from Jewish sect

This article is about how Ontario judge, Stephen Fuerth, recently upheld the decision made by a Quebec court to remove 13 children from a controversial Orthodox Jewish sect, Lev Tahor. When the initial court ruling was made in Quebec, the Lev Tahor community fled for Ontario to avoid persecution.

-Why does this story belong on the front page?

The Lev Tahor community has been in the news since last November when the initial ruling was made by a Quebec court to have the children removed. It makes sense that this article be featured on the front page of the Toronto Star because it's relevant and timely—Judge Fuerth's ruling was made earlier this week.

-What grabbed my attention?

What grabbed my attention most was the fact that the Lev Tahore community thought it could avoid accountability under the child welfare law by simply leaving Quebec. It doesn't come as a surprise to me that Judge Fuerth upheld the Quebec court's ruling given the weight of the allegations against the Lev Tahor sect.

-Is there any opinion?

The author does a good job of looking at both sides of the dispute. He takes note that the Lev Tahor community believes that they are being persecuted for their religious beliefs—which isn’t too big of a leap given the PQ’s expressed determination to pass a secular charter which limits religious expression in Quebec. However, the article clearly sides with the court’s decision. One more than one occasion in the article, the author lays bare some of the accusations that have been brought forward against the Lev Tahor with regards to the 13 children in question, i.e. evidence of neglect, psychological abuse, forced marriage, etc. 

-Why is opinion included in the piece?

I think the author has to side with the court’s decision given the accusations of child abuse. The Toronto Star would never align itself with an article that defends accused child abusers. 

Canadian underdogs have bite

This article is about Canadian athletes who aren’t expected to reach the podium at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, or who are competing in some of the less-heralded competitions, i.e. luge, ski jumping, etc.

-Why does this story belong on the front page?

It makes sense that the Toronto Star feature Olympic related editorial on the front cover given that the 2014 Olympics begin on Friday. It’s relevant and topical.

-What grabbed my attention?

There was nothing very attention grabbing about this article.

-Is there any opinion?

At first glance, I thought that the author's assessments about the caliber of certain Canadian athletes was a bit opinionated, however he supports his claims with statistics and grounded facts. 

B.C. man preparing for birth of his son and funeral for his wife

This article is about Dylan Benson, a 32-year-old man from British Columbia, whose wife, Robyn, experienced a brain aneurysm last December when she was 22 weeks pregnant. The aneurysm caused irreparable brain damage and Robyn is being kept alive with the aid of a breathing machine so that her unborn son can continue to develop and hopefully survive a cesarean.

-Why does this story belong on the front page?

I’m not entirely sure why this story is on the front page of the Toronto Star. It’s obviously very, very sad. I nearly broke into tears after reading it. However, it isn’t often that local B.C. news makes its way into the Toronto Star. It could be that it’s on the front page because it’s so overwhelmingly sad.

-What grabbed my attention?

What grabbed my attention was simply how sad the story was.

-Is there opinion?

I didn't notice any opinion in this article. The author does mentions a few other instances in which pregnant women were kept alive with life support in order to save their unborn children. And some cases in which pregnant women were kept alive despite their family's request that they be taken off life support. But I don't believe that the author mentions these cases in order to build an overall judgement. It's simply about providing relevant context.