Distinguished professor in sports communication

M.Ed., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.S., Northwestern University

John Sweeney is a distinguished professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is head of the advertising sequence in the School and director of the new Sports Communication Program.

Professor Sweeney has developed and taught numerous undergraduate courses at UNC-CH. He has won 10 teaching awards during his tenure and has taught workshops on advertising creativity for companies as diverse as IBM, the Martin Agency and Aetna Insurance.

Before his university career, Sweeney was an associate creative director at Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago. He has built on his experience in industry with consulting and can claim professional experience on more than 40 national brands in all facets of marketing and advertising. This experience includes promotional work tied to the Olympics, National Basketball Association and the NCAA.

Sweeney has been involved with AEJMC and the American Academy of Advertising for more than 15 years. He has published 46 columns and articles in publications such as Advertising Age, Journalism Educator, Adweek and the Journal of Advertising Education. He has written more than 25 commentaries on the sports business broadcast on North Carolina public radio. He has made more than 30 academic presentations at national conventions and programs.

Office phone: (919) 962-4074
Office location: Carroll 235
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