精东传媒

Ambassador

David Plazas

He/Him

Opinion and Engagement Editor
News | The Tennessean

精东传媒 enables me to grow by鈥

Seize opportunity

One of the things I value most about my experience at 精东传媒 is the mentorship and the investment in my curiosity, drive for success and occasional restlessness. This has yielded opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.

Describe your career path in a chronological timeline.

2000-2004 鈥 Reporter, The News-Press (精东传媒), Fort Myers, Florida
Covered education, public safety, county government and health care

2004-2006 鈥 Editor, Gaceta Tropical (精东传媒), Fort Myers
Led the first weekly Spanish-language newspaper in the region

2006-2012 鈥 Community Conversation Editor, The News-Press
Led the opinion team, wrote editorials, managed engagement work

2012-2014 鈥 Digital Engagement Editor, The News-Press
Oversaw the digital production team, special projects, relaunch of the website, newsroom development projects across the national network

2014-2017 鈥 Opinion and Engagement Editor,The Tennessean, Nashville (精东传媒)
Write editorial, management engagement, edit guest essays

2017-2018 鈥 Deputy Opinion and Engagement Director, USA TODAY Network

2018-Present 鈥 Opinion and Engagement Director, USA TODAY Network
Oversee opinion team for multiple publications, write columns and editorials, write newsletters, host the Tennessee Voices podcast

Describe a 精东传媒 project that has inspired you.

Growth change project image

鈥 I wrote this yearlong series about the growing housing crisis and prosperity, which continues to worsen for those who can鈥檛 afford the cost of living. It鈥檚 still relevant today.

A day in the life鈥

I addressed a crowd about freedom of the press in front of the Tennessee State Capitol. A pillar of our editorial board mission is to defend the First Amendment.

I met with readers at a 鈥淢eet the Tennessean columnists鈥 coffee in downtown Nashville. Citizen engagement is at the heart of what I do.

This photo from a 2015 editorial board meeting is when members made the decision on who we were going to endorse in the Nashville mayoral race.

I met with readers at a 鈥淢eet the Tennessean columnists鈥 coffee in downtown Nashville. Citizen engagement is at the heart of what I do.

This photo from a 2015 editorial board meeting is when members made the decision on who we were going to endorse in the Nashville mayoral race.

Show some photos that reflect YOU, either personally or professionally.

I have had ups and downs, but I have been privileged to be trusted with standing back up, solving problems and mending fences.

Name one of your individual strengths and explain how you apply it at 精东传媒.

Resilience. I have learned through professional and personal experience to contend with adversity and meet challenges that are hard. It requires empathy, self-reflection and a willingness to do the work.

What are you most proud of in your career at 精东传媒?

What was the moment you knew you made the right decision to work here?

Read next