Conservative Nonprofit Praises Florida Legislature for Standing Against ‘Media Blacklists’

In this Just the News article, Misty Severi reports that the Independent Media Council praised Florida lawmakers for advancing a budget provision aimed at preventing taxpayer-funded advertising from being filtered through politically biased media-rating systems.

• Florida’s 2026–2027 state budget includes language barring state agencies from using advertising and marketing firms that rely on certain media-monitoring systems.
• The provision specifically names systems such as NewsGuard, Ad Fontes, and the Global Disinformation Index as examples of politically biased media-rating entities.
• Independent Media Council spokesperson Christine Czernejewski said taxpayer-funded advertising should prioritize public reach rather than be controlled by “ideological gatekeepers.”
• The article frames the provision as part of a broader fight against “media blacklists” that can punish conservative or alternative outlets by steering ad dollars away from them.
• Florida included a similar measure in its 2025–2026 budget, positioning the state as an early leader on the issue.
• West Virginia has since passed similar protections through its First Amendment Preservation Act.
• The article also notes that Congress adopted related language in the National Defense Authorization Act, restricting the Pentagon from using agencies that employ “misinformation-monitoring systems” for military recruitment ads.
• The $114 billion Florida budget has passed the legislature and is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it before the July 1 deadline.

Read the full story: https://justthenews.com/accountability/media/conservative-nonprofit-praises-florida-legislature-standing-against-media