
BA English vs BA Journalism: Which degree leads to better career options?
Both courses revolve around the written word, but their essence and outcomes couldn't be more different.
O
n one side lies a world of canonical texts, literary criticism, and philosophical inquiry. On the other hand, the charged environment of newsrooms, digital media, and real-time storytelling. Choosing between the two often feels like choosing between depth and immediacy, between reflection and reaction.
Course curriculum: From Shakespeare to the newsroom
A Bachelor of Arts in English is structured to build critical thinking through intensive reading, analysis, and discussion. The curriculum spans British, American, Indian, and world literatures, with a strong focus on theory, linguistics, and creative expression. Students learn to decode meaning, critique cultural narratives, and appreciate language as both art and ideology.
Journalism programmes, in contrast, are built around the dynamics of information.
The syllabus is pragmatic, covering reporting, media ethics, editing, feature writing, photojournalism, and digital storytelling. It trains students to gather, verify, and deliver news in ways that are fast, factual, and engaging.
Where English studies dissect the world through metaphor and context, journalism courses teach students to frame it through fact and relevance.
Skills acquired: Deep thinker or agile storyteller?
An English degree nurtures subtlety.
Students learn how to write with nuance, think critically, and argue persuasively. These are transferable skills, valuable in publishing, academia, content development, advertising, and beyond. However, the professional application of these abilities often requires supplementary credentials or real-world exposure.
Journalism, meanwhile, is grounded in hands-on learning. By graduation, students are familiar with deadlines, interviewing, fact-checking, and platform-specific writing.
This early exposure to industry practices offers a faster launch into the professional world.
Both paths demand clarity, creativity, and command over language, but their tones differ. English teaches the student to slow down and reflect. Journalism insists on moving fast and staying relevant.
Career prospects: Open horizons vs direct routes
An English graduate may not walk into a ready-made job title, but the possibilities are far from limited. Career options include:
Publishing and editing
Content writing and copywriting
Academia and research
Civil services
Creative writing
Communications and corporate training
That said, most of these careers require either a postgraduate degree or technical upskilling to become sustainable and financially rewarding.
Journalism graduates, on the other hand, often find themselves job-ready by the end of their course. Common roles include:
News reporter or anchor
Feature writer or editor
Social media executive
PR professional
Podcast producer or multimedia storyteller
Digital content strategist
The climb can be steep and competitive, especially in today's evolving media landscape, but the degree lays a clearer professional foundation from the start.
Digital shifts and emerging roles
In the last decade, both degrees have experienced a transformation shaped by technology. The traditional divide between the literary and the journalistic is softening.
English graduates who once sought print publishing are now creating content for digital campaigns, e-learning platforms, and branding firms. They're becoming SEO writers, scriptwriters, and literary influencers, proof that a literature degree can indeed find relevance in the digital age.
At the same time, journalists are no longer confined to newspapers and television. With platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Substack, many are launching independent careers, managing their own media brands, and diversifying into content marketing, data journalism, and podcasting.
Versatility is no longer optional, it is the new baseline.
One language, two directions
While both degrees speak the language of ideas and information, the direction in which they take you depends on your ambition, temperament, and adaptability.
If the goal is to explore culture, literature, and the evolution of thought, and if career plans include teaching, research, or creative writing, English offers a rich foundation. If, however, the ambition is to enter the professional world swiftly, impact public discourse, and tell real-time stories, journalism presents a clearer, more targeted route.
Neither is inherently better. Both demand dedication, and both reward those who continue to evolve beyond their degrees.
Ultimately, the decision is not about which degree is superior, but about which one aligns more closely with your vision of work, purpose, and the kind of stories you want to tell.
Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
How Coast Guard swimmer Scott Ruskan saved 165 people during deadly Texas floods
Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old rescue swimmer with the US Coast Guard, is being celebrated as an "American hero" for saving 165 individuals during his inaugural rescue mission amidst devastating floods in Central Texas. He was transferred from Oxford, New Jersey, to Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp severely affected by the flash floods of the Guadalupe River. The river rose 26 feet in just one hour, washing away vehicles, homes, and campsites. Scott Ruskan, a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, rescued 165 individuals during catastrophic floods in Central Texas.(@northamericanrescue/ Instagram) Also Read: Who is Scott Ruskan? 'American hero' who saved 165 lives in Texas floods Scott Ruskan explains how he saved lives amid Texas floods Stationed in Corpus Christi, Ruskan was not only a rescue swimmer on duty but also the sole triage coordinator at the location. Twelve helicopters from the Coast Guard, National Guard, and US Army airlifted victims while Scott Ruskan organized emergency medical treatment for those saved. In an interview with Fox & Friends, he mentioned seeing a gathering of approximately 200 individuals from above."Yeah, as far as right now, we've been getting our tasks from higher above, mostly from the Army as of right now. But a lot of it has just been large state triages, so we were at Mystic yesterday for a long period of time," he said. 'We noticed a large bunch of kids at a camping site and thought, 'Awesome, that's our destination,'' Ruskan added. His work resulted in the successful removal of almost all those campers. Also read: Camp Mystic flooding: Republican lawmaker reunites with his two daughters after deadly Texas floods Ruskan was previously an accountant Prior to enlisting in the Coast Guard, Ruskan worked as an accountant at KPMG and earned his degree from Rider University in 2021. He joined later that year, completed Aviation Survival Technician training in California, and became a rescue swimmer in 2022. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem commended him on social media, stating, 'Scott Ruskan is a hero of America.' His unwavering bravery represents the essence and purpose of the US Coast Guard. Texas continues its recovery efforts. At least 80 have been reported dead, and many more are missing. FAQs How does a Coast Guard rescue swimmer do their duties? By organizing rescues and offering medical assistance during crises like floods, they save lives. What is the death toll of the Texas floods? At least 80 people have died in the disaster. How to assist those affected by floods and other natural disasters? Donations can be made to local relief funds, World Central Kitchen, the Red Cross, or other reputable organizations.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Karnataka Examinations Authority frame new rules for Non-Resident Indian quota students
Bengaluru: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will conduct document verification for candidates seeking admission to medical, dental and Ayush courses under NRI ward claim from July 8 to 10. Candidates who applied under the quota for the courses have to visit the KEA office in Malleswaram for verification. KEA has changed the documents required for foreign nationals and NRIs. The latter must produce a family tree signed by the tahsildar (a notary-signed family tree or affidavit of relationship will not be accepted); an embassy certificate of the sponsor issued by the Indian consulate-general with an official seal — issued within the last six months (certificates signed by a notary will not be accepted), and the sponsor's NRI/OCI status documents, including bank passbook, passport and visa/resident visa, among other papers. Foreign nationals must provide a resident certificate of the parent issued by the embassy of the respective country, compliant with income tax rules or any other certificate/affidavit (on Rs 100 e-stamp paper) proving the parent's residential status abroad, in addition to NEET score card, hall ticket, etc. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Candidates to appear based on NEET ranks: July 8: Ranks up to 4,00,000 July 9: Up to 8,00,000 July 10: Up to 12,00,000


Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: Read the walls
Are you among one of those who like snooping around a neighbourhood's intimate life? Wanting to sniff out the pursuits and concerns of the locality, its hopes and aspirations, and secrets. Flyers that lie stuck on the grimy peeling concrete of those walls are replenished with fresher flyers in predictable regularity. (HT) {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} All you have to do is to read the neighbourhood's walls. Particularly the flyers that lie stuck on the grimy peeling concrete of those walls. The very flyers that are replenished with fresher flyers in predictable regularity. New flyers stuck on old flyers. {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} This strategy works well for the gateway guarding the entrance to south Delhi's historic Chirag Dilli village. The gateway has no name. The locals refer to it as khandahar, ruin. Whatever, sample the flyers pasted on the rugged walls. Tuition centre looking for spoken English teachers (male/female). Home classes for English-speaking in 'angrezi vatavaran' for 'interview preparation' and 'jobs.' Coaching centre guaranteeing fluency in spoken English, in American accent. Chirag Delhi village is like a hyperlocal 'hood where everybody seems to know everybody. Unhurried passersby stop to chat with each other—and also with the friendly grocers and veggie sellers. These grocers and vendors seem to know everyone by their name. Such a languid ambiance is only one part of a bigger more complicated reality. The place is simultaneously cosmopolitan. It is home to scores of young ambitious professionals who have come from across the country, choosing to live in the village's relatively low-rent accommodations. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} To be sure, not all the flyers on the gateway walls are about English-speaking lessons. One poster bears the logo of Amazon dot com—it 'urgently requires boys and girls' from 'illiterate to BA Pass,' with the monthly salary ranging from ₹15.500 (in 'packing') , to ₹22,500 as 'supervisor.' {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} To be sure, not all the flyers on the gateway walls are about English-speaking lessons. One poster bears the logo of Amazon dot com—it 'urgently requires boys and girls' from 'illiterate to BA Pass,' with the monthly salary ranging from ₹15.500 (in 'packing') , to ₹22,500 as 'supervisor.' {{/usCountry}} Read More {{^usCountry}} While Amazon was founded in 1994, the gateway is centuries-old. It was among the four gateways of a long wall built around the village by a Mughal emperor in the 18th century. (You discover this too on reading a display board standing beside the same walls!) {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} While Amazon was founded in 1994, the gateway is centuries-old. It was among the four gateways of a long wall built around the village by a Mughal emperor in the 18th century. (You discover this too on reading a display board standing beside the same walls!) {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} Then there's a flyer on the gateway wall seeking 'maids' and 'helpers' for assignments in 'homes' and 'bungalows.' It specifies separate arrangements for those willing to work for 6 hours daily, and 12 hours daily. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} Then there's a flyer on the gateway wall seeking 'maids' and 'helpers' for assignments in 'homes' and 'bungalows.' It specifies separate arrangements for those willing to work for 6 hours daily, and 12 hours daily. {{/usCountry}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} And check out this love message scrawled on the gateway wall—first part of the line is in English, the rest is in Hindi, in Devnagri: 'I luv u lekin tumhare ghar walo ko shak ho gaya hain.' Other flyers, other perspectives. A sacred yagna, to be performed in a dharamshala, is 'being hosted for Bhagwan Shyam and being hosted by Bhagwan Shyam.' Everyone is invited, declares the flyer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON