(L-R) Jessica Hill, art director, David Silver, account manager, and Justin Schlaffer, copywriter, welcome guests to the 1920s-themed Temple Advertising Department Awards.
By Samantha Messner
Diamond Edge Communications
The ninth annual Temple Advertising Department Awards (TADA) celebrated the 1920s May 2 in Temple University’s Mitten Hall as it honored some of its top students. The awards ceremony was hosted by Diamond Edge Communications (DEC), Temple’s student-run ad agency.
DEC founded TADA and has developed, promoted and organized the event each year. David Silver, TADA account manager, said, “In the past, the event has maintained a basic template on how it should be, where it’s located, and how it’s run. This year, we really just wanted to make it special. We booked a larger venue, invited more guests, the whole nine yards.” The team created handmade champagne and wine bottle centerpieces, provided candy cigarettes and had members of the Broad Street Music Group play live ’20s-style jazz music.
Amy Muntz, president of Neiman, was the honorary guest speaker. She spoke of the world of advertising and told the audience about her work in creating the “Temple Made” campaign, an award-winning campaign that has succeeded in capturing the Temple spirit, and has essentially become part of student culture. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity hearing from Muntz, and students and faculty alike were both captivated and inspired by the advice she gave. Following her speech, Nicole Regis stepped on stage, a senior advertising student whose quirky, yet adorable thoughts both resonated with and inspired students.
After the speakers came the awards. Ultimately, 20 awards were given out to 54 students, each of whom received a certificate of recognition, and some even received cash prizes or scholarships. These awards are intended to give students recognition for accomplishments in their specific tracks. In order for a student to receive an award and be invited to the ceremony they must have submitted an application. Advertising professors then reviewed the applicants and selected students who they believed prospered amongst their peers.
The event was supported by the generous donations of sponsors Simon & Company, Harmelin Media, Neiman and Yo! Bus.
TADA is one of the many accounts on which DEC works each semester; other notables include the U.S. Department of State, The Alzheimer’s Association and the School of Media and Communication’s own Study Away Program.
“Diamond Edge Communications takes practical, classroom knowledge to the next level. The hands-on experience students acquire through DEC allows them to stand out in the advertising field” says Holly Furman, DEC CEO.
A full functioning agency, DEC is only one of a handful of student-run agencies in the country. DEC creates opportunities for students who work as account managers, copywriters, art directors, researchers and in public relations. Students all do real work for real clients for real money.
Advertising class hits the sound studio
Two advertising students take a turn at the mics at Baker Sound.
Fifteen students in the “Advanced Copywriting” class at Temple University’s School of Media and Communication visited Baker Sound in Center City Philadelphia to simulate a radio commercial recording session.
Assistant Professor of Advertising Joe Glennon played all the roles a copywriter normally would perform.
“I walked the students through the session and used six of them as voice talent to record the script,” Glennon says. “Unlike TV, with an army of creative professionals taking commands from a director, or print, which requires an art director and others to complete the job, radio is the domain of the writer. The copywriter selects the voices, acts as producer scheduling studio time and the talent, and directs the session. The voice talent and the recording engineer add their expertise, but all decisions belong to the copywriter. After all, the recording session is when the writer takes what he hears in his head and records it.”
Joe Glennon’s “Advanced Copywriting” class takes over Baker Sound recording studios in Philadelphia.
Glennon says radio commercials are often left in the hands of younger writers, so it’s beneficial for the students to get their first studio experience under their belts.
The students were able to spend time with two Temple alumni, Rick DiDonato, RTF ’87, president and chief engineer, and Jeff King, BTMM ’07, an engineer.
“The first time I was in a recording studio was the first session I was responsible for. It was terrifying, to say the least. Thankfully, the engineer could tell how green I was and led me through the process without ever letting the client know I was freaking out,” Glennon says. “I know my students are more prepared for their first session than I was.”