Welcome!
My name is Joshua Chong. I’m an award-winning arts critic and culture reporter with the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. My work primarily focuses on covering theatre, opera and classical music, along with the cultural institutions and individuals that breathe life into the city.
Born in Singapore and raised in Toronto, I was bitten by the journalism bug after I started writing for my high school newspaper. I went on to study English and drama at the University of Toronto, where I contributed news stories and feature articles to my campus paper, The Varsity. I also wrote for community newspapers such as The Annex Gleaner and arts publications including The Whole Note, The Dance Current and Opera Canada.
I joined the Star in 2021 as a part-time student intern working out of the Radio Room, a 24-hour breaking news desk. The following year, I moved into the one-year internship program, and worked out of the city, business and culture desks. After completing my internship, I was named as one of the inaugural reporters on the Star’s new Express Desk, a digital-focused, general assignment section. While juggling my news responsibilities during the day, I also contributed reviews to the Star’s culture section as the second-string theatre critic. I assumed my current position in January 2024.
During my time at the Star, I’ve been on the forefront of some of the biggest news stories — from the Israel-Hamas war and the coronation of King Charles III to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter and the Canadian wildfires that blanketed the Eastern Seaboard.
As an arts critic, I see my role as a bridge between the audience and the art. You can read more about my approach to criticism here.
Want to connect? Drop me a line at jldwchong@gmail.com or jchong@thestar.ca
Joshua Chong 