Mangaluru: International Media Conference 2026 begins at Nitte University

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 29, 2026: A two-day international Media Conference 2026, organized by the Nitte Institute of Communication (NICO), a constituent of Nitte University, was inaugurated successfully at the Paneer Campus in Mangaluru.

The conference focused on the theme, “From Propaganda to Peace: Rethinking Media Responsibility in Global Conflicts,” highlighting the evolving role of media in times of war and conflict.

Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute, Dhanya Rajendran, inaugurated the conference and spoke about the ethical challenges faced by journalism in the present era. She said the younger generation of journalists need not fear technology or think of it as a threat. She emphasized that artificial intelligence should not be seen as something that would take away jobs, but rather as a tool that could be beneficial if journalism remained rooted in professionalism and public interest.

Vice-Chancellor of Nitte University, Prof. Dr. M.S. Moodithaya, presided over the event and stressed that media must uphold objectivity and focus on people-centric reporting. He also advised journalists to exercise caution while reporting on wars and conflicts.

Dr. Nikhil Moro, from Kansas State University, USA, delivered the keynote address and said that global journalism should move beyond data-driven reporting and give greater importance to human-centered storytelling and in-depth analysis.

Head of Nitte Institute of Communication, Dr. Moulya Baladi, welcomed the guests. The organizing secretary and associate professor spoke about the objectives of the conference, while researcher Anjali Rai compered the programme.

Following the inaugural session, several media panel discussions were held. Retired Lieutenant General A.K. Bhat, Dhanya Rajendran, TV9 Digital Editor Dr. Bhaskar Hegde, and Dr. Shraddha Rai, Associate Director of Rudram Dynamics, participated as resource persons in the sessions.