ORU Media Students Recognized for Research and Communication by International Association of Business Communicators

Oral Roberts University media students were recognized for their research, innovation and communication management abilities through two Bronze Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). The awards identify excellent research and communication across corporate, non-profit, advertising, marketing and government sectors.

“It is exciting to see the hard work of our students be recognized by industry professionals,” said ORU Assistant Professor Cristi Eschler-Freudenrich. “These awards speak to the quality of our degree programs as well as the high caliber of our students.”

The first award was given for a streaming media study within the Research Innovation Division. The study was inspired by recent national research exploring millennial uses and gratifications for streaming media like Netflix. Students in ORU’s Communication Research course conducted an online survey of more than 350 undergraduate and graduate students and their streaming media attitudes and behaviors. The study found ORU students do not deviate significantly from national norms, with ORU students watching approximately seven hours of streaming TV weekly.

“We asked questions specifically about binge-watching behaviors. Interestingly, almost 46% said watching three or more shows consecutively would be a binge. And, two in five ORU students noted they watch that amount in one viewing on average,” Eschler-Freudenrich said.

The findings were published in ORU’s campus newspaper, the Oracle. Results are available here: http://issuu.com/oruoracle/docs/nov_21__2014_issuu.

The second IABC award was given in the Communication Management Division and involved a strategic campaign to promote ORU’s advertising degree program. The campaign was implemented during the third and fourth quarter of 2014. As part of the campaign, the Media Alumni Board planned and hosted TulsaTalks, a digital strategies conference, raising over $10,000 to benefit the ORU Advertising Students Fund. Monies were used to sponsor 13 students to attend and compete in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.

The judging criteria for both entries was based upon well-defined and measurable goals, how those goal were met, content that reflected the needs and interests of the target audiences and evidence that the intended message was effectively transmitted.

For more information about ORU's advertising degree, visit /academics/coacs/advertising-major.php.