Broadcaster Jack Ford was presented with the DuMont Television Center's Broadcaster of the Year Award by Larry Londino, left, chair of the Broadcasting Department and School of the Arts Dean Geoffery Newman at the SART convocation. "Anytime you receive an award you're thrilled, but having spent my life in New Jersey it is even more thrilling to be honored by one of this state's most prestigious higher education institutions," Ford said. "I'm always astonished at the marvelous talent institutions like Montclair State are providing to our society."

Ford, who is co-host of a new syndicated talk show, "Living it Up with Ali & Jack," gave some advice to the graduates: "I offer a word of caution and encouragement. As you go out into the world, you're going to find a completely different universe in the media. The landscape has changed. There are so many more vehicles to provide us with news and information and with that explosion has come confusion over definitions and boundaries of the news. It's going to be up to this generation to recreate those definitions and boundaries.

"As you venture out into your world, whatever it is you're doing, make sure it does teach, illuminate and inspire."

Formerly a correspondent for ABC News, Ford accepted a studio job so he could spend more time with his family. The Emmy and Peabody award winner began his career as a trial lawyer and was asked to become a commentator on Channel 2 news in New York while he continued to practice law. That led to his break in television when he did a daily commentary on the Joel Steinberg murder case in 1987. After that he became one of the first anchors on Court TV, which led to a job as a weekend anchor on NBC's "Today" and a legal correspondent during the week.

Ford taught a broadcasting master class in the spring and was a guest on an episode of "Carpe Diem."

Past recipients of the DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award include former Senator Bill Bradley, Daily News television critic David Bianculli, CEO of Fox News Roger Ailes and news reporter Sara Lee Kessler.