Overview: Monroe County Clerk of the Court Audit of NewmanPR

An audit of Stuart Newman, Associates, Inc. d/b/a NewmanPR, the longtime public relations agency of record for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the destination marketing organization for the Florida Keys & Key West, has been released by the Monroe County Clerk of the Courts.

NewmanPR’s legal counsel has rejected the Clerk’s opinions and recommendations as highly improper and refuted findings contained in the audit report. A copy of the entire response to the audit report is here.

The audit of NewmanPR came after the clerk’s office released an audit of the TDC on Oct. 31, 2023. Unlike the audit of the agency, no one from TDC or NewmanPR had the opportunity to make comments on the TDC audit. In that audit, NewmanPR was accused of seemingly double-billing for photography and production, as well as other allegations.

Eight days later, the Monroe County Attorney’s Office issued a memo that revealed that no double-billing existed, because the scope of services covered by the fixed-fee component of the Contract clearly does not include photography, print production or video services.

“Our agency has supported the public relations efforts for Florida Keys tourism for more than 43 years,” said Andy Newman, who took over the presidency of the agency after his father, Stuart G. Newman, died in March 2019. “It is impossible for NewmanPR not to challenge this because of our reputation, credibility and performance for so many years.”

Additional statements from Andy Newman, president of NewmanPR, are here.

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