Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeev Bhanawat established and headed the Centre for Mass Communication at the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur and is an acknowledged professional, teacher and author in Journalism and Mass Communication. At the University of Rajasthan, he was also an honorary director of the Centre for Jain Studies and honorary director of the Administrative Services Pre-Entry Training Centre.
Prof. Bhanawat has been one of the expert members of the UGC committee for developing LOCF (Learning Outcome-based Curriculum Framework under OBE) for Journalism and Mass Communication at the undergraduate level. He is a member of the UGC peer team for quality assessment of universities and is also associated with NAAC Bangalore.
He was born on 19th July 1958 in Udaipur (Rajasthan). Professor Bhanawat did his M.A. (Hindi Lit) and P.G. Diploma in Journalism from Rajasthan University. He started his career as a lecturer in State Education Service in Rajasthan and later joined Rajasthan University as a journalism lecturer in January 1982. Prof. Bhanawat has been acknowledged as the architect of the growth and development of media education in Rajasthan. He has been instrumental in launching Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses and PhD. Programme in Rajasthan University under Centre for Mass Communication. It augurs well that despite various constraints, the centre was reckoned as an established institution for teaching, training and research in Mass Communication during his tenure.
Prof. Bhanawat has guided 34 scholars for their PhD. Degree. He was also a member of the Senate, Academic Council and Convener, Committee of Courses of the University of Rajasthan from 2000 to 2018. He has been associated with several academic institutions and universities in various prestigious positions across the country.
He has received various awards like the Radha Krishna Khetan Gold Medal for securing the highest marks in Hindi literature in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Examination of Rajasthan University, Sumnesh Joshi Pratham Kriti Award from Rajasthan Sahitya Academy, Udaipur, for his book ‘Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Ke Upanyasaon Mein Sanskritik Bodh’ Babu Rao Vishnu Paradkar Award form U.P. Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow for his book ‘Patrakarita Ke Vividh Paridrishya’, Young Research Talent Award from Samyak Gyan Pracharak Mandal, Jaipur. Pradeep Kumar Rampuria Memorial Award from All India Sandhumargi Jain Sangh, Bikaner, Ganesh Lalwani Samman, 2011 from Jain Vichar Manch, Kolkata for his book ‘Sanskritik Chetna Aur Jain Patrakarita’, young achiever award of Indian Junior Chamber Zone V and Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi Award of Rural Journalist Association of India.
He also has been honoured by the Public Relations Society of India and the India Foundation for PR Education and Research for his meritorious research in Journalism, Media Guru Award by the News Papers Association of India, Delhi, the Hall of Fame Award by the Public Relations Council of India, Lifetime Achievement Award in 3rd All India Media Educators’ Conference held in Jaipur, Jansampark Shree award by Public Relations Council of India (Jaipur Chapter), Lifetime Achievement Award by exchange4media and BW Businessworld, Credint Shree award of CredintTV and Eminent Media Educator award by Global Media Education Council.
Prof. Bhanawat has an array of publications on Journalism, Public Relations and Mass Communication to his credit. He regularly contributes articles and research papers to various newspapers, magazines and research journals.
He has edited and written about 35 books related to journalism & mass communication which include Press Kanoon Aur Patrakarita, Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi Ke Upanyason Mein Sanskritik Bodh, Press Kanoon Aur Patrakarita, Patrakarita ka Itihas Avam Jan Sanchar Madhyam, Samachar Lekhan Ke Sidhant Aur Takaneek, Sanskritik Chetna Aur Jain Patrakarita, Patrakarita Ke Vividh Paridrishya, Media and Rural Development, Prabhavi Jan Sampark, Media Scene in India: Emerging Facets, A Compendium of Codes of Conduct for Media Professionals, Whither Journalism & PR Education?, Vikas Evam Vigyan Sanchar, Jan Sampark Evam Vigyapan, Electronic Media, Vyganik Dristikon Aur Sanchar Madhyam and Vilupta Hoti Betiyion, Media & COVID 19: Issues, Implications, Inferences, 100 Years of Media Education in India. Media Education: Critical Thoughts.
Prof. Bhanawat has been the editor of the Media quarterly journal ‘Communication Today’ since 1997, which is considered a premier journal in mass communication research. More than 10 special issues of this journal draw the attention of media scholars throughout the country. He has been on the editorial board of various prestigious academic journals. He was also the editor of Glimpses, the quarterly newsletter of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. He also started a webinar series under Communication Today on Oct 2, 2020. Till June 2023, he conducted around 85 national/international webinars under this forum. Recordings of all these webinars are available on his YouTube channel and the website of Communication Today.
He was also Director of the Communication Bureau of the University from 1989 to 1996. He has participated in more than two hundred national & international seminars, symposiums, workshops and conferences in various capacities. He has organized several such events in collaboration with different national & international agencies such as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Public Relations Society of India, Asian Media Information Centre (AMIC) Singapore, Namedia, International Labor Organization (ILO), Media Studies Group, Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany), International Centre Goa, Goa, Indian Institute of Mass Communication(IIMC), New Delhi, Press Institute of India, Media Information and Communication Centre of India(AIMEC) New Delhi, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, Unicef, UNFPA, Public Relations Council of India etc.
He has been actively associated with All India Radio, Doordarshan and other FM & TV Channels since 1974. As a media expert, his programs have been telecast on local and national channels. He has been nominated as a reviewer of the political broadcasts made by AIR & Doordarshan, Jaipur, during Assembly & Parliament elections from time to time. He was also nominated as an observer for Jaipur by the Press Council of India for the parliamentary election in 1999.
Prof. Bhanawat has been actively connected with various associations of media professionals and cultural, social & academic associations in multiple capacities. He has been chairman of the Jaipur chapter of the Public Relations Society of India and a member of its national governing body. He is also the mentor of the Global Media Education Council.
Dr Bhanawat is widely travelled for his academic pursuits. He visited Colombo in 1996 at an international conference of media educators in South Asian countries. He also presented a paper at World Hindi Conference held in New York in 2007 and has been to Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang to study the status of media education in China.
He has established an advanced research centre at his residence in memory of his parents, Late. Prof. Narendra Bhanawat, former Head, Department of Hindi, University of Rajasthan and Late. Dr Shanta Bhanawat, former Principal, Veer Balika College, Jaipur. The centre provides important reference material to researchers in Hindi Lit., Rajasthani Lit. and Journalism and Mass Communication. The centre has a rich collection of more than 13,000 books.
Communication Today 