For additional context, a precursor to this story ran on August 12, 2026: On Being a Creator... Plagiarism... and all the Nonsense in Between in 2026.
Browardist Unveils Evidence Related to Certified Florida and Pathway Connection Solutions – Operators of @fortlauderdalecertified, @delraycertified, @tampabaycertified and/or @cpglatest – Plagiarizing at Least 20 Media Outlets Throughout the State of Florida and Beyond
Investigative inquiry presentation showcases how the work of journalists, photographers and creatives is being derived and monetized
On World News Day, Browardist co-founder and editor Jesse Scott unveiled evidence related to Certified Florida and Pathway Connection Solutions plagiarizing at least 20 media entities throughout the State of Florida. The investigative inquiry centers on its entities including Fort Lauderdale Certified, Delray Certified, Tampa Bay Certified and @cpglatest.
Evidence related to the following outlets and/or creators being plagiarized included: Axios, Beer Marketer’s Insights, Boca Daily News, Browardist, Business Debut, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Financial Times, I Love the ‘Burg, Marketing Brew, Miami Herald, Miami New Times, Palm Beach Post, Pembroke Pines News, Secret Miami, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, That’s So Tampa, The Broward Scene, The Coastal Star and What Now Miami.
The presentation in full – which was held at General Provision in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and attended by leaders across the journalism and communication sphere – may be viewed below. Additionally, below, are the questions posed to Certified Florida, Pathway Connection Solutions and the impacted media entities as well as corresponding visual evidence.
More information on Scott may be garnered at jesserobertscott.com; and a statement from Scott on the matter is below.
Browardist was provided a link to 14 Guitar Hotel images by Hard Rock's PR agency the morning of July 31 and selected one of those images for its piece. Additionally, 10 Major Food Group restaurants were mentioned in the press release Browardist received; Browardist selected four random ones. A question for the Certified team that ran its story the same day - where did you source this photograph and why did you select these four restaurants specifically in this now deleted post? Browardist confirmed with Hard Rock's agency that you did not receive a photo link from them.
This image of delicious-looking ice cream came from a local PR agency, which Browardist has verified Certified is not on their distribution list. Aside from within Browardist’s story and on its Instagram post, we can't seem to find this image anywhere else online whatsoever. So, where did you source it for your story that ran eight days later?
What sources did you rely on for your story of this soon-to-come private members club? Browardist wrote a story on this in January, and you covered it in May, actually crediting Browardist - a total needle in a haystack, perhaps - and exemplifying that you do in fact turn to our work as a source. So, why'd you delete this post before we could even properly ask you about it?
Browardist confirmed with Carousel Club's PR team that you are not on their media distribution list. Browardist and Certified were the only two outlets to write dedicated pieces on the venue's decision to stay open. Browardist’s story ran on June 3. Carousel Club did not make a public-facing announcement on this until June 9, yet your story ran on June 8. What was your source for this story?
Browardist has questions related to at least a dozen other of Browardist's most successful and viral stories, in which Certified's coverage always followed ours. These examples date back to March through last week, with Certified’s coverage always following ours.
Miami New Times food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar interviewed Call Your Mother's owners and ran a piece on August 24. Certified's piece ran two days later. Certified team - where were these two exact photos sourced from? Additionally, Nicole's piece dubs the deli as a cult-favorite and you call it a literal cult - is there nefarious activity taking place at this deli that we should know about?
Miami New Times food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar leveraged a rendering of Pizza Queen for her piece along with a photo that she sourced of a random slice of New York pizza. How and why did you decide to use the exact same photos in your piece 5 days later?
Miami New Times food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar sourced photos from Burgers & Shakes as well as a wild card Andiamo photo. Your piece that ran the day after hers used two of those exact photos. What's up with that?
Miami New Times food editor Nicole Lopez-Alvar ran a piece on Kush in Wynwood reopening - her story ran on March 10. In your, June 22 coverage, did you leverage the photo she sourced, but zoomed in on it? Also, in your online story, you allude to a "greatest hits" menu selection - Nicole's story also has this unique element, so was Nicole's story your source?
On August 26, Miami Herald’s Connie Ogle ran a piece on Wan’s. A staff photographer shot by Matias Ocner ran front and center. The next day, that same photo ran front and center with Certified. Our question for the Miami Herald: Was permission granted for Certified to use this photo?
On July 29, writer Connie Ogle penned a piece on Estrella Insurance opening a burger shop. Miami Herald staff photographer Matias Ocner snapped some pretty cool pics for the piece. On August 2, Fort Lauderdale Certified's piece ran leveraging Matias' photo front and center. Our question is for the Miami Herald: Was permission granted for Fort Lauderdale Certified to use this photo?
For a July 17 piece, writer Connie Ogle visited Bakey in Hallandale Beach and some photos were snapped on-site. Our question for the Miami Herald and related to Fort Lauderdale Certified's story that ran three days later: Was permission granted for Fort Lauderdale Certified to use this photo?
Pembroke Pines News is a sister publication of the Miami Herald and its reporter Isabel Rivera had a July 31 piece on a new pet hospital opening in Pembroke Pines. The piece featured a photo sourced directly from VEG ER. Our question for Certified related to its story three days later is what were your sources for this niche piece as well as its corresponding photo?
Phillip Valys' reporting on Big City Tavern's closure went live on September 17. We couldn't help but notice a few artsy raindrops in staff photographer Carline Jean's core photo that accompanied his piece. So, our question to the Sun-Sentinel team is: Did you provide Certified with this permission to use this photograph? We have similar questions related to two other Sun-Sentinel pieces – one written by Rod Stafford Hagwood utilizing Melody Timothee’s photography and a separate piece featuring staff photographer Mike Stocker’s work.
Local legendary reporter Rod Hagwood with the Sun-Sentinel ran a piece on July 23 related to some LGBTQ+ fabulousness going down in Wilton Manors, leveraging credited photos by Melody Timothee. Our question for Fort Lauderdale Certified: did you also obtain permission from Melody and/or the event mentioned here to use these photos?
Sun-Sentinel senior staff photographer Mike Stocker snagged some photographs of Amelia's All Day and they ran on the paper's website on September 5. Two days later, the exact same photo populated within Fort Lauderdale Certified's coverage. Our question to Mike Stocker and the Sun-Sentinel team would be: Did you provide permission for them to utilize this image?
Now this is a bit of a wild card - on July 23, Laine Doss inked a piece for What Now Miami on Pink Palm Creamery in Sunrise. She was the only local reporter to write about the spot pre-opening. Certified ran a piece six days later leveraging many key details from Laine's piece. Our main question for Certified is why is the main photo of your piece a place in Hawthorne, New Jersey that has no affiliation whatsoever with Pink Palm Creamery?
On July 4, Secret Miami ran a piece by Bianca Marcof on Florida's forthcoming Buc-ee's locations. The piece leverages an UnSplash-sourced image. Two days later, Certified ran similar news using this exact photo. Our question for Certified: Did you rip off Bianca’s work here?
On July 7, The Broward Scene ran a viral post on a new Water District coming to Fort Lauderdale in 2028 leveraging photos sourced from a design firm. The next day, Certified ran the same news. Our main question for Certified – which futuristic Middle Eastern city is in your lead photo because that is and never will be Fort Lauderdale?
Palm Beach Post reporter Eddie Ritz had a story run on July 13 covering the closure of Grease Burger Bar. Amid a slew of contributed photos by the restaurant, we noticed a couple of photos Eddie took himself. Two days later in Certified's coverage, the same photo populates. Our question for Eddie: Did you provide permission to Certified to leverage this photo?
On September 10, Daniel Nee ran a piece reporting on Carmine's Gourmet Market's progress in Boca Raton. As part of his work, he took an aerial-esque photo. In Certified's coverage two days later, the same image is utilized. Our question for Daniel, as he grows his own hyper-local publication, is: Did you provide Certified permission to use this photo?
On May 16, writer Laura Harrington inked an interview piece with the owners of Kook's Conch Fritters opening in Pompano Beach. On June 14, Certified's piece ran with similar details and with the exact same three images as Business Debut. To the Certified team: Of all the photos available on Kook's Conch Fritters' page to source and ask permission for, this must be a coincidence, correct? We have questions related to two other Business Debut pieces as well.
On August 18, Ross McWaters - who founded Business Debut - ran an interview-centric piece on the opening of 2nd Street Bagels, Bites and Brews in Boca. A quite delicious looking pink bagel sandwich takes the lead in this one. The next day, Delray Certified's piece and post went live. Oh, and there's that bagel. Our question for Delray Certified: Why this photo of the 60 on their Instagram?
On May 5, Laura Harrington's interview piece with the owners of Vinny's Cafe in Jupiter hit the interwebs with courtesy photos provided to them. If you're still hungry for that same chicken salad wrap that appears in Business Debut's piece, you can chow down in Delray Certified's piece more than three months later. Our question to Delray Certified: Where'd this photo come from - which isn't on Instagram - and the details in your piece?
Jan Norris with The Coastal Star broke the news of John G’s spreading its wings with some very specific details in its August 20 piece. Palm Beach Post visited John G’s in 2013 and snapped this photograph. Certified team, is The Coastal Star your source for your piece... and did you rip the Palm Beach Post’s photo while you were at it?
We have an article on the Howard Frankland Bridge from Shauna Muckle, at the Times, that went live on May 26 featuring a shot from Dirk Shadd. It's from quite the vantage point. Our question for Dirk and the Times staff: Was Certified up there with you to take that snap or did you provide them with permission to use this?
Senior food and dining critic Helen Freund's piece on the Peppermint Lounge with staff photography from Dirk Shadd ran on May 13. The very next day, Tampa Bay Certified leveraged Dirk's same photograph and an uncredited photo by Dan Gross of the Associated Press for its online story and Instagram post. Tampa Bay Times friends, did you provide permission to Certified to use your work?
On July 29, Tampa Bay Times real estate reporter Rebecca Liebson gave us all the news that WestShore Plaza was going bye-bye, featuring quite the shot by Times staff photographer Jefferee Woo. That same Jefferee photo appears two days later with Certified. To the Tampa Bay Times team, please fill us in on the permission granted for Tampa Bay Certified to use this photo?
On July 21, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's reporter Annalise Mabe reported on Kim Bros.' Korean market closing, including some on-site photography that she took. Six days later, her lead photo - zoomed in to include only "one bro" - appears in Certified's coverage Annalise and Creative Loafing team, did you provide Certified permission to bro out with you?
I Love the 'Burg editorial director Bob Carskadon gave us the news that The Penny Lane Beatles Museum was going to open in Downtown St. Pete this July. His piece ran on July 7 with some photos via the Penny Lane folks. The next day, we see the same news with Certified. Our question for Certified: Who with Penny Lane provided you with that zoomed in photograph on your second carousel slide?
Uber talented multimedia journalist Kaylen Ross with I Love the 'Burg made a visit to Somebody's Coffee, interviewed its owner and garnered some pretty stellar details about the space and what's ahead. In her interview piece, it was disclosed that the spot will open a Temple de la Luna apothecary shop in about a month. Our question to Tampa Bay Certified: You also mention Temple de Luna is coming. Was this a detail you garnered from a press release or item sent to you? You also mention such explicit details that are also mentioned in Kaylen's piece - were these details also included in that press release?
I Love the 'Burg editorial director Bob Carskadon gave us the news that The Penny Lane Beatles Museum was going to open in Downtown St. Pete this July. His piece ran on July 7 with some photos via the Penny Lane folks. The next day, we see the same news with Certified. Our question for Certified: Who with Penny Lane provided you with that zoomed in photograph on your second carousel slide?
In an August 23 Financial Times piece, reporters George Hammond and Ivan Levingston unearthed lots of key facts related to coffee chain Blank Street raising some funds via an executive interview. On August 24, Axios properly credits these facts and provides even more facts. All of these collective facts appear in @cpglatest's coverage later on August 24 without any sourcing whatsoever. @cpglatest team, where did these facts come from?
In an August 19 exclusive interview with Beer Marketer's Insights, leadership at Garage Beer disclosed some very niche and specific facts. These exact figures show up 10 days later with @cpglatest. For the @cpglatest team, was Beer Marketer's Insights where you received this information?
Katie Hicks, a senior reporter with Marketing Brew, interviewed the founder of Poppi related to her new, coming CPG brand. During that interview, the founder disclosed the new brand had a team of 10, had received more than 2,000 resumes and had five open roles ranging from digital communications to influencer management. Our question to @cpglatest, where-oh-where did you get these exact figures for your post?
A Statement from Jesse Scott, Co-Founder and Editor of Browardist:
“Friends, as a journalist on this World News Day here in 2026, I am exhausted. As the editor of a hyper-local news site that was born out of pure passion, a palpable need to tell more local stories and wanting to shine a light on all the cool things going on in my county, I am exhausted by the blatant plagiarism, copyright infringement, attempts at brand confusion, trademark dilution and content piracy I am experiencing far too often.
Within the context of this situation, I could have easily sat on this information and sailed off into the sunset as entities abusing the creative rights of others continued with seemingly business as usual. Instead, I chose to dedicate upwards of 200 hours of my own unpaid time to look into this matter and ask questions on behalf of an industry that has been so good to me.
This is a journalism industry in which two local newsrooms per week are being shut down throughout the United States. Within our local sphere – two of the entities I highlighted today have experienced major cuts. A long-time and leading beacon in our community, the Miami Herald, just cut one-third of its staff. Pembroke Pines News was also affected by McClatchy’s most recent round of layoffs.
This is all on top of a broader, unfair narrative that an entire media industry should be written off. This is an industry that has to adapt remarkably in the two decades I’ve been engrained in it. I’ve seen everything from my friends at my hometown newspaper in Virginia be shown the door to, as part of this project, the most reputable publications throughout the state of Florida having fundraising projects to simply sustain their operations.
As a guy that writes some generally fluffy stuff about empanadas, staycations and wellness experiences, I have found the courage in me to stand up and spotlight an issue that is undoubtedly deterring from and impacting media entities, big and small and near and far. This courage is absolutely miniscule compared to the journalists out there shining light on far more dangerous causes in the vein of public interest.
As with most journalists, I have zero desire to be the story here. But the story and a voice for it are critical in this moment. Again, I am exhausted and cannot do this alone and need your help in telling this story. I appreciate your advocacy and if you have information related to this specific matter, please email [email protected].
I have absolutely no doubt that these business practices are not unique to the entities we discussed here today nor to journalism to itself. From here, I hope we can all have an extra level of care in the news that we consume and support. To my fellow creators, don’t be a jerk and credit your sources. There is hard work involved in bringing a story to light. To PR and marketing professionals as well as any business owner out there – you are the gatekeepers of accurate information in so many instances. So, support real journalists and amplify their work versus those who are pure copycats seeking financial gain off the backs of others’ hard work and your brand(s). And to my fellow journalists, I’m here for you and hang in there. Your work has never been more vital.”
