Advertising Research Class Plans Busy Semester

Dr. Wendy Macias's Advertising Research class this semester is working with Rawle Murdy, a Charleston advertising agency. They are examining the effect the economy is
having on middle income families' food budgets and spending at grocery stores and causal dining restaurants. There are six student groups representing the following brands--Piggly Wiggly, Publix, Walmart, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Applebee's and Red Robin. Piggly Wiggly and Cheeseburger in Paradise are both Rawle Murdy accounts.

The class is also participating in a University-wide test of podcasting class sessions. About half dozen professors across the campus are participating to see if it is something they could roll out on a larger scale in the future. Dr. Macias was provided with a miniMac and podcasting software that allows her to do a screen capture with audio of her lectures. She can choose to make the lectures available only to her students or distribute to iTunes as well.