J. David Stern

Julius David Stern (April 1, 1886 - October 10, 1971) was an American newspaper publisher, best known as the liberal Democrat publisher of The Philadelphia Record from 1928 to 1947, as well as other newspapers including the New York Post from 1933 to 1939.

J. David Stern in Joe Steele
J. David Stern purchased the New York Post in 1933. Under his ownership, the Post had initially supported President Joe Steele through his reelection in 1936, but had quietly become neutral as Steele's administration grew more repressive. Nonetheless, the Post did run pieces by Mike Sullivan that were critical of Steele. However, Stern authorized the Sullivan-penned editorial, "Where Is Our Freedom Going?" in 1937.

The Administration responded by taking Sullivan into custody, and sending him to a camp in Montana. In early 1944, Sullivan's editor, Stan Feldman, was arrested himself.