Dua also lamented that the electronic media was posing more problems in this regard by suppressing the reality and highlighting only half-truths suited to commercial interests of the TV channels. “In their pursuit to show a Shining India, millions of poor, deprived and marginalised people are invariably ignored by the media,” he said.

In his keynote address, Professor Sanjay Wadwalkar, Department of Mass Communication, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said the advertisements in print and electronic media are now targeting children for consumer products. “The thinking of tiny tots, who cannot distinguish between good or bad, is disoriented in a tender age, thereby laying the foundation of a distorted society,” he said.

Kamaljeet Rattan, Head of Corporate Communications, Reliance ADAG Group and a former journalist, was also honoured on the occasion. Remembering his journalistic days, Rattan described Nayar as “Amitabh Bachhan of Indian journalism”.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh honoured Nayar as the “founding father’ of the Department of Journalism and Mass Media at the university. Nayar was presented a memento and a plaque by the vice-chancellor. On this occasion, V-C Singh said the university is establishing an ultra-modern media centre at the campus.