Ambassador
David Plazas
He/Him
Opinion and Engagement Editor
News | The Tennessean
向日葵视频 enables me to grow by鈥
One of the things I value most about my experience at 向日葵视频 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 (向日葵视频), Fort Myers, Florida
Covered education, public safety, county government and health care
2004-2006 鈥 Editor, Gaceta Tropical (向日葵视频), 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 (向日葵视频)
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 向日葵视频 project that has inspired you.
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 向日葵视频.
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.
