The paper examines the lifelong struggle of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan being a journalist, particularly against a complex and fast changing political and social backdrop of his times with a particular reference to various advertisements appeared in his periodicals Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq and The Aligarh Institute Gazette. The paper focuses on a rapidly growing advertising trend during Syed's period and critically assesses how print advertisements were emerging as one of the basic pillars of a value-based civilization undergoing transition and transformation. The paper also presents a comparative analysis of advertisements that were largely published by Syed’s opponents in other newspapers and magazines, particularly the Awadh Pench.