Dominic Plata is the two time Editor-In-Chief of the Fidelity Yearbook of Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. Plata relays important information and coordinates publicity efforts by creating and managing content for New Voices Texas and all forms of outreach including, but not limited to, the Website, Social Media platforms, merchandising, and print-outs. Plata organizes his team of specialists and works alongside his fellow officers.

“Student journalism is not merely an extracurricular activity; it is a catalyst for change, a platform that amplifies the voices of often overlooked minds. In a world where misinformation and sensationalism is common place, student journalism empowers young minds to think critically, question authority, uncover stories, and to disseminate all this information in a transparent and truthful manner. It is for this reason that New Voices advocates for the protection of our rights as student journalists.“

What I Do

As the Communications Officer of New Voices Texas, I work alongside our team of specialists and officers to get the word out about student press rights. I will provide support to reaching those informed and less informed on the importance of laws protecting the rights of student journalists.

I am responsible for collaborating with these officers and specialists in making efforts to reach our peers across the state. Through this collaboration, ideas will be shared and a common ground to reach our fullest potential will be established. We are an organization that upholds the expression of thoughts and opinions regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexuality, age, and any other personal identifications. We strive to create an equal and just system for student journalists across the state, and we will create credibility through each of our own, unique, experiences.

I will use my position as the Communications Officer by providing support and aiding our team in reaching anyone who will listen about the importance of student press rights, the lack thereof, and issues that arise from this. I’ll do this by reaching into social media platforms, discussing with other advisors across the state, and overall getting our name out there to everyone in the state of Texas who is connected to this issue in one way or another.

By the end of the school year, I hope to build a strong basis for New Voices where hundreds of student voices are rallying against the oppression of our freedom. There are countless stories to be told concerning the rights of student journalists who wished to investigate, understand, and inform their peers; however, they were silenced because of a lack of rights protecting them. I want to bring the discussion of passing New Voices law that will protect our rights to legislature as well as informing law makers and other political figureheads why our press rights are such an important topic in this modern era where journalism is often overlooked due to the abundance of unethical practices and sensationalism.