Two teams from Samford University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) have been named finalists in a marketing campaign competition for Taziki's Mediterranean Café. Another Samford team finished sixth, but only the top five teams will advance in the competition. 

All of the Samford teams were from a JMC advertising course led by professor Betsy Emmons.

For the competition, each of 35 teams from 10 universities submitted a campaign package including a 30 second television commercial, a 30 second radio commercial, one full color print advertisement and a marketing plan book complete with executive summary, target demographic data, media buy, and creative proposals.

The honored Samford entries include “Make Better Choices” (submitted by Emmons and JMC majors Amanda Miles, Julie Laforce, Courtney Guhl and Cameron Gray,) and “Let’s Grow Strong Together” (submitted by Emmons and JMC majors Halley Smith, Rebecca Brown, Ryan Carpenter and Jonathan Bailey.)

"Our students listened to Taziki's goals for the campaign, and on their own came up with innovative ideas that they then had to translate into different aspects of a comprehensive integrated marketing communications campaign,” Emmons said. "All of the students have mentioned that they have gained valuable insights into the advertising profession through this project, and that these insights have given them important experience to bring with them in their future employment."

The top five teams will present their campaigns to a panel of judges Nov. 15 at Taziki's corporate headquarters near Birmingham.

The finalist campaigns can be viewed on YouTube Nov. 22.