Media & Journalism feat. Dr. Clint Smith, EdM ‘17, PhD ’20 (Education)
Guest blog post by Rachel H. Rosenman (Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD Candidate in Music)
At a PhDs with Purpose event on December 2nd, Dr. Clint Smith (EdM ’17, PhD ’20 in Education) shared the story of his career as a writer, journalist, researcher, poet, and public scholar. Dr. Smith highlighted how skills and experiences gained during graduate school prepared him for impactful work beyond academia. Now a staff writer at The Atlantic, Dr. Smith has published in major magazines and literary periodicals, and he has authored two poetry books and the best-selling narrative nonfiction book How the Word Is Passed, which examines the legacy of slavery in America.
Here are some key takeaways from Dr. Smith’s story for PhDs considering careers in journalism, media, and public-facing scholarship:
Draw on a variety of experiences
Dr. Smith emphasized that his work draws on a broad range of experiences from within and outside academia. His interdisciplinary interest in how schools intersect with broader cultural and social structures led him to take coursework across the domains of education, history, philosophy, and sociology. He also cited the important influence of meaningful activities outside his academic work during his graduate studies, including Boston-area poetry readings, teaching in a prison in Norfolk County, and engaging in racial justice activism and graduate student unionization efforts.
Professional experiences from before graduate school likewise shaped his intellectual path and writerly perspective. Dr. Smith’s work with a public health organization in South Africa and his years teaching high school English in a low-income, majority Black and Latino community in Maryland informed the research questions that have motivated both his doctoral research and his public-facing writing. Current events played a role as well; Dr. Smith notes that the mid-2010s movement to remove Confederate monuments in the U.S. inspired an interest in studying public memory and how history is represented in public spaces, eventually leading to the project that became How the Word Is Passed.
For PhDs interested in writing and storytelling beyond the academy, Dr. Smith’s professional path shows how professional experiences, community involvement, personal passions, and lived engagement with current events can all contribute to a scholarly perspective and a public-facing voice. Doctoral training in precise communication, critical thinking, and rigorous analysis equips us well to bring our varied experiences into impactful storytelling.
Follow diverse interests
Dr. Smith also highlighted the importance in his career of keeping multiple interests alive at once. He noted that he published a book of poetry and developed a nonfiction trade book while completing his PhD. Students considering work in public-facing writing and media after graduation might likewise consider setting aside time for a professional or creative side project alongside their academic studies to develop their skills and begin building a portfolio of work.
Dr. Smith also noted the productive potential of applying his research skills towards writing from a non-expert position, in contrast to academia’s norms. How the Word Is Passed lies somewhat outside of his formal academic field of expertise, he explained, but approaching the topic as a learner actually provided an effective way to structure an engaging narrative for the book, by bringing readers along with him on a journey of discovery. Dr. Smith also cited his journalistic writing on subjects like sports and parenting as examples of work that grew out of personal interests rather than academic training.
Dr. Smith’s story shows that the range of topics scholars can explore in public-facing venues is much larger than academic definitions of expertise might suggest––and that following the diverse interests we cultivate in life can lead to meaningful professional and creative opportunities.
Find a unique voice
Dr. Smith also cited the importance of finding an individual voice as a storyteller––especially in a time when the availability of AI-generated content makes a uniquely human perspective valuable. He referenced the concept of “comp titles” in publishing: identifying comparable published books by other authors to clarify the style, audience, and distinct individuality of one’s own work.
He also encouraged scholars to consider a variety of possible formats for reaching public audiences, including poetry, prose, essays, interviews, video content, and social media posts.
Developing a voice as a public scholar requires thoughtful attention to perspective and tone, as well as reading widely across relevant journalism and media spaces to help you understand where your work fits in and how to pitch it effectively.
Build an audience––and don’t fear rejection
For Dr. Smith, actively posting on Twitter (now X) in the 2010s on topics of current interest gave his research findings and cultural commentaries a wide online readership. By the time he was ready to publish his work, he had already cultivated an audience.
Today, a wide variety of online platforms––text-based, audio and video formats, or newsletter-focused––allow emerging writers and creators to join conversations and exchange ideas. These spaces can help scholars connect with new audiences and broaden their reach.
Dr. Smith also emphasized that rejection is common and inevitable in journalism and publishing. Building an audience, cultivating relationships with editors, and pitching directly to the relevant section or subject-area editor of a media outlet or book publisher can help you get your work noticed when pitching a story idea or book proposal. Whether or not it is successfully published, he noted, every piece of writing is valuable practice towards developing your skills.
Some final thoughts:
Dr. Smith concluded with encouragement for PhDs looking to make impacts beyond academia. While acknowledging the challenges of today’s job market and validating the stresses it brings, Dr. Smith also reminded attendees that a PhD is uniquely valuable and provides versatile skills that transfer to a variety of workplaces. He encouraged aspiring writers and public scholars to stay open to unexpected opportunities, noting from his own experience that professional pathways can take surprising turns. Dr. Smith’s example reminds us that there are exciting opportunities to find intellectual fulfillment, pursue curiosity, and engage meaningfully with a broad public through work beyond the academy.
