21 Digital Marketing Experts on How AI Search Overviews are Changing Their Industry
Last summer, the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications piloted a new program called The Spiegel Scholars Program. We invited three highly qualified master’s students—Ariel, Kristen, and Momo—to help us write a research report on how AI is changing the advertising industry. Over three months, our team interviewed 21 marketing executives, transcribed […]
Spiegel Research Center Data Visualizations Earn Top Honors
Spiegel Research Center Data Visualizations Earn Top Honors Two data visualization projects affiliated with the Spiegel Research Center were recognized at the 2026 Big Ten Academic Alliance Data Viz Championship, earning top placements among faculty and staff submissions. State of Integrated Marketing Communication in 2025, created by Sanchary Pal and Paisley Lyn Drzewicki Lucier, received […]
SRC Research Highlights the Role of Trust in a Zero-Click Economy
The Credit Union Advantage in a Zero-Click World In a recent Copacino Fujikado thought leadership piece on navigating the zero-click era, insights from qualitative research conducted by the Spiegel Research Center (SRC) help frame how trust, visibility and decision-making are changing in an AI search environment. The article draws directly from SRC interviews with senior […]
Updated Report: The State of IMC 2025 – How Integration Is Reshaping the Future of Marketing
Executive Summary The Spiegel Research Center conducted a nationwide survey of 161 experienced marketing professionals to uncover the most pressing challenges and trends in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). The findings reveal a marketing landscape in transition, where rising quality expectations collide with increasing operational complexity. The Generalist Reality Modern marketers function as tactical generalists rather […]
SRC partner: New Black Friday with Less Impulse, More Intention
Congratulations Black Friday You’ve come a long way since your name was coined 50 years ago. You’re growing up. Your adorable children—Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, and Giving Tuesday—are carving out their own identities and becoming part of culture. You’re not as volatile; we’ve seen fewer doorbuster dustups make the national news in recent years. You’re less frenzied; your […]
Partnership with Copacino Fujikado to Advance Data-Driven Marketing
A first-of-its-kind partnership has been announced between Northwestern University’s Medill Spiegel Research Center (SRC) and Seattle-based independent creative and media agency Copacino Fujikado, as reported by MediaPost. Recognized nationally by Ad Age as one of the best small agencies in the country, Copacino Fujikado brings 27 years of creative expertise and experience working with hundreds […]
ANA Feature: Northwestern Research Explores Generative AI’s Role in Marketing Teams
The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) recently featured Northwestern University’s research on how marketing teams are integrating generative AI. The article, “Northwestern Study Finds Enthusiasm, Gaps in Gen AI Use,” highlights insights from the university’s empirical research—conducted through surveys, interviews, and case studies within the Spiegel Research Center—revealing both the opportunities and challenges marketers face […]