On Feb. 7, nearly 100 million people will watch Super Bowl XLIV on television. This is the one day a year America celebrates advertising. This year, thanks to the weak economy, media experts predict the price for a 30-second commercial will drop for only the second time in history–although a Super Bowl spot is still the most expensive commercial on TV. Thanks to the high price tag, the commercials are highly anticipated, generating nearly as much hype as the game itself.
Researchers and advertising experts at The University of Texas at Austin are available to comment on advertising creativity, media strategy, consumer behavior, branding and sponsorships. Many will be available to comment on the commercials aired during Super Bowl XLIV during and following the game.
Creativity and Media Strategy
Neal Burns, professor of advertising
512-471-8160
nburns@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Burns is a former advertising agency entrepreneur and consumer research specialist who has conducted research on Super Bowl commercials. His expertise includes creative strategy, agency management, branding, qualitative research, consumer behavior and marketing.
Lisa Dobias, senior lecturer, Texas Media program in the Department of Advertising
512-471-8125
dobias@mail.utexas.edu
Dobias is a former agency media buyer for multinational advertisers, local retail advertisers around the country and technology, business-to-business advertisers. Her expertise includes media strategy and media development.
John Murphy, the Joe C. Thompson Centennial Professor in Advertising
512-471-1101
jhmurphy@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Murphy researches integrated brand promotion, campaign planning and media management with an emphasis on practical applications. An observer of cultural evolution and its intersection with commercial communication, he has judged numerous advertising awards competitions.
Maria Rivera, lecturer, Texas Creative program in the Department of Advertising
512-471-8147
maria@redwritingshop.com
Rivera has worked in marketing capacities for several arts organizations and has worked as a copywriter for creative agencies in New York. She runs a freelance copywriting business while teaching courses in advertising creativity. Expertise: copywriting, creative strategy and creativity coaching.
Sean Thompson, lecturer, Texas Creative program in the Department of Advertising
512-773-5728-mobile
thompsonian@hotmail.com
Thompson is a former art director at one of the premier agencies in Chicago and continues to work as a freelance creative director in addition to teaching. Expertise: art direction, branding, creative strategies and broadcast commercial production. Thompson will be watching the game and commercials and will be available for comment.
Advertising and Diversity
Geraldine Henderson, associate professor
512-471-8556
512-743-2661-mobile
gerri@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Henderson, a former corporate marketer and brand manager, researches branding, multicultural marketing, urban marketing, and cognitive and social consumer networks. Henderson will be watching the game and commercials and will be available for comment.
Wei-Na Lee, professor, Texas Media program in the Department of Advertising
512-471-8149
weina@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Lee’s research interests include cross-cultural consumer behavior, consumer acculturation and consumer behavior in a technology-mediated environment. She is an expert in market segmentation, how consumers process advertising information, and ethnic and international people representation in advertisements.
Jerome D. Williams, the F.J. Heyne Centennial Professor in Communication
512-471-7302
jerome.williams@mail.utexas.edu
Dr. Williams researches consumer marketing and advertising with particular expertise in multicultural advertising, diversity in the advertising industry, consumer racial profiling, target marketing and social marketing.
For more subject matter experts, visit The University of Texas at Austin Experts Guide.
