Florida Politics Website Accused of ‘Pay-to-Play’ Scheme, Accepting Cash In Exchange for Favorable Coverage

The influential Sunshine State based outlet “Florida Politics” and publisher Peter Schorsch are being accused of  running a “pay-to-play” operation under which advertisers on its website are paid back with favorable coverage.

According to political strategist Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, her efforts to promote a major labor union fell on deaf ears after she declined to advertise on the site, but her subsequent state senate campaign benefitted from friendly stories after she followed the advice of her own consultants and purchased some ad space.

“If we keep supporting a ‘news website’ that is pay-to-play (and we all know and acknowledge why this is problematic), it will not matter what we do,” wrote Epstein-Ortiz on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about the phenomenon.

NPR has independently verified her account of events, although Schorsch denies it while still acknowledging “that outfits that advertise with his properties get more attention.”

“I still have very strong strategic business relationships with people. That opens doors, provides revenues,” explained Schorsch.

In a statement given to Mediaite, Schorsch said, “Every couple of years, a legacy media outlet writes this same story.”

“This one leads with criticism from a losing legislative candidate who ran against a friend of mine,” continued Schorsch. “With that as a lede, I didn’t expect much more from the piece. I guess I can take some satisfaction that the reporter describes me as ‘charming.'”

But according to NPR, former employees say Schorsch’s practices cross ethical lines, as he “repeatedly distorted coverage at the behest of corporate interests and political campaigns.”

Anna Eskamani, a Democratic state representative who paid to advertise on Florida Politics back in 2017, called Schorsch’s approach “really, really scary.”

“When you can’t decipher what’s actual news, right, compared to what’s someone’s editorial, or what’s rumor, then it really erodes democracy,” argued Eskamani.

Schorsch is also accused of failing to label stories that are explicitly paid for by outside groups, as well as of issuing legal and political threats against his critics.

“I will absolutely go to the full extent possible to protect my enterprises. It’s like the line from Untouchables from [David] Mamet: Come at me with a knife, I’m going to go with a gun,” confirmed Schorsch.