About Us

Strategic Communication, formally called Advertising, has been taught at the University of Missouri since 1908, when Walter Williams founded the world’s first journalism school in Columbia, Mo. Williams established the school around an all-important principle: The best way to learn about journalism and strategic communication is to practice them.

AdZou is one of many opportunities for MU students to immerse themselves in practical experience. Other university-affiliated media outlets include KOMU –TV, The Columbia Missourian newspaper, Vox and Global Journalist magazines, KBIA radio station, MOJO Ad and Missouri Digital News.

AdZou students are guided by faculty instructors with years of professional experience in the strategic communication industry.

AdZou has a strong track record of success — a 2009 survey showed that 93% of past clients surveyed were satisfied with their AdZou experience, and 88% of clients surveyed said they would recommend AdZou to others needing strategic communication plans.

AdZou students are seniors committed to learning the business by getting hands-on experience before entering the strategic communication industry. As part of the Missouri School of Journalism, these are some of the brightest and most engaged students in the country who benefit from the “Missouri Method” of learning by doing.

Former AdZou students have gone on to work for:

  • Crispin Porter
  • Starcom
  • Leo Burnett
  • Anheuser-Busch
  • YMCA
  • Fleishman Hillard
  • OMD
  • Integer
  • Adamson
  • Blue Sky Communications
  • GUESS clothing
  • VOX Global

Others have gone on to attend top ten law schools or work for Teach for America.

  • They produced everything that we wanted and much more than we imagined.
    -Caroline Mitchell,
    YMCA Literacy Council

  • This team did an excellent job understanding a very technical, challenging product line and came up with great ideas, most of which we will embrace. I would highly recommend this program to others.
    -Rick Caldwell,
    President of SCADWare

  • I thought their recommendations spoke to the demographic of our board and answered a need that we have been feeling for some time.
    -Bob Priddy,President of Jefferson City Community Concert Association

  • Our experience with this program/project was outstanding. We couldn't have asked for a better group of students. They were extremely professional and the market plan they presented was more than we could have ever imagined.
    -Allison Harnden, Sprint

  • I cannot say enough good things about the team, their creative solutions to my ad problem and their professionalism. I've hired pros before and they could take some lessons from this team.
    -Elaine Viets, Mystery Novel Author