DNA Staff Highlight: Clayton Smith

By Layla Joseph

A new byline has been recently added to articles in The Downtowner as our team continues to grow.

Since joining the team of writers at DNA, Clayton Smith has been using his knowledge from his education in Public and Professional Writing, English Writing and poetry at The University of Pittsburgh to craft articles for The Downtowner. Also a local barista and Pittsburgh foodie, he is happy to now add journalistic writing to his portfolio.

“The reason I chose those majors is because I have always loved to write,” he said. “Poetry has always been an artistic passion of mine. Public and Professional Writing allows me to work creatively while expanding what I can write about.”

The Chicago native has called the Steel City home for over three years. Sharing an out-of-town perspective, Smith said that the Pittsburgh community, opportunity and sports teams are what drove him to settle in the Burgh.

“It’s a big city with a small town feel,” he said. “The sense of community here is really strong.”

While Smith’s dream job would consist of writing and publishing his poetry for a living, he said that his second option would be pursuing a career in journalism or public relations.

Smith said that since he started writing for DNA, he has enjoyed the opportunities and creative flexibility that’s available to him.

“Downtown is so interesting and so broad,” he said. “There are so many great topics to dig into. From food and restaurants, to urban development and policy. With so much to write about, there’s never a dull day.”

Smith’s love for reading enhances his talent of writing, and his motivation that drives him to succeed lies behind being a better person everyday.

“I want to be able to appreciate the people around me, so when I work, I look for collaborative and celebratory aspects for motivation,” he said. “I try to be more human, which means I try to understand other people so we can collectively work for the common goal.”