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News

Group seeks clients, careers

Student-run group takes advertising into its own hands

by JAMAICA NEGRETE
The Daily Cougar

With a staff of about 20 business and communication students, the American Advertising Federation organization has developed a student-run advertising agency.

Media I.E. has been in the works since this summer. Its most visible campaign was the "constipated gorilla" seen around campus in early September advertising AAF's general meetings. AAF is a professional organization for students pursuing careers in advertising, but it is open to students in other disciplines such as creative writing, marketing and journalism. 

"If you love what you do and want to perfect your craft, then there's nothing you wouldn't do to help yourself succeed," Craig Walker, second vice president of AAF and a communication senior, said. "We have to take our careers into our own hands. That's why we created the agency."

Media I.E. is student-run from top to bottom. Students are involved in creating the advertisements and are broken up into groups involving copywriters and art directors.

"Right now, our marketing strategy is word of mouth," Walker said. "We are all very excited about the agency, so we all share the responsibility of spreading the word." 

Media I.E. does not charge for its services. Members are more interested in building their portfolios and gaining the experience necessary to get hired after graduation.

"There is absolutely nothing that Media I.E. won't tackle," Walker said. 

From designing print ads for newspapers, flyers or brochures, to Web sites and television commercials, Media I.E. is interested in any medium. 

"I hope this ad agency is something that our students can take pride in," Walker said. "You couldn't ask for anything more than a group of people all excited about this idea. That's what we have and that's why I see great things happening with this agency."

For more information e-mail AAF or Media I.E. at aaf.at.uh@gmail.com.

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