What Are the Benefits to Being a Journalist?
Question by Jess: What are the benefits to being a Journalist?
I have a Compare and Contrast research paper I have to write for my English 10 course and I have to choose two career fields I’m interested in and write about them. I chose Performing Arts (Leaning towards Dance) and Journalism. However, I have come across the problem where I can not find information on what benefits journalists get for working with a magazine or newspaper. Can anyone help me, and by benefits I mean sick leave/pay, paid vacation time, health benefits…? Any info that can help me finish this up?
Best answer:
Answer by sophicmuse
It’s going to vary depending on the type of journalism being done – whether freelance, for a small company, a large media organization, etc…
To get you started, here’s the information provided on benefits from Gannett, which is one of the biggest news companies in the US. It’s presented from the company’s point of view, so it’s obviously in the best light possible. You can also use the site to find information about other companies. Good luck with your paper!
“At Gannett, we are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits plan that promotes health and wellness, builds current and future financial security, enhances work-life balance and allows for personal choice and flexibility for employees and their dependents.
Employees may enroll their domestic partners (same-sex or opposite-sex) and eligible children of the domestic partner as covered dependents under the medical, dental, vision and voluntary life insurance plans if the employee meets the criteria.
Key elements of our core benefits offering are outlined below:
PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Medical Coverage: Employees may select from a variety of different health insurance options, including a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) or a local health maintenance organization (HMO). A consumer-driven plan, the Aetna HealthFund, is also available.
Prescription Drug Plans: Retail and mail-order coverage included in the medical plans listed above.
Dental Coverage: Available as a separate option through a national provider. The plan provides 100% coverage for preventive services, 80% with a $ 50 deductible for minor restorative services, 50% with a deductible for major services and 50% with a deductible for orthodontic services.
Vision Coverage: Available as a separate option through a national provider. Includes eye exams, lenses, frames and contacts with co-pays.
Mental Health/Substance Abuse Coverage: Available as part of the medical plan employee chooses.
Wellness Works @ Gannett: Promotes fitness, provides health information and offers specific programs to help employees with chronic health problems including smoking, back pain, heart disease and hypertension, obesity and diabetes.
Employee Assistance Program: Confidential assessment, counseling and referral to outside agencies for employees and their dependents, provided by Ceridian-OneSource.
BUILDING FINANCIAL SECURITY
Gannett 401(k) Savings Plan: Employees may elect to contribute between 1% and 20% of pay on a pre-tax basis for investment in variety of funds. Employee contributions, up to the first 6% of pay, are eligible for a 50% match in the form of Gannett stock.
Pension Plan: Eligible employees are enrolled in the Gannett Pension Plan following one year of service and completion of 1,000 hours. Employees are fully vested after five years of service. This is a portable benefit should the vested employee leave the company with five or more years of vested service.
Basic Life Insurance: Core coverage provided by Gannett equal to one times the employee’s annual basic compensation (including bonus and/or commissions, if applicable) for eligible employees.
Optional Supplemental Life Insurance: Enables employees to purchase additional term life insurance through payroll deduction. Voluntary election can be made for additional coverage at one, two, three or four times annual compensation to a maximum of $ 2.5 million, combined with the company-provided basic life insurance.
Spouse and Child Life Insurance: Employees may purchase life insurance protection for their family members in the following amounts: $ 25,000 or $ 10,000 coverage for spouse or domestic partner; $ 5,000 coverage for child.
Accident Insurance: Employees may purchase accident insurance for themselves and/or family members that provides coverage in the event of an accident-related injury or death. Voluntary election can be made for one, two, three, four or five times annual compensation; family benefit is a percentage of employee benefit.
Travel Accident Insurance: Gannett provides added protection to employees traveling on company business. Out of town and daily travel on assignments are covered. The maximum benefit from the plan is three times annual basic compensation. Also included under the Travel Accident Insurance is travel assistance, which covers employees when traveling more than 100 miles from home for business or personal reasons. Coverage includes pre-travel assistance information, medical assistance, emergency evacuation, and legal and financial assistance.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Allows employees to become a Gannett stockholder at any time through the convenience of payroll deduction. Program is administered by Wells Fargo and Gannett pays the brokerage fees and commissions on these purchases U.S. Savings Bonds Purchase Program: Provides an efficient and timely way to purchase United States Savings Bonds through payroll deduction. Income Protection Plan: Provides eligible employees with a continuing income if unable to work due to medical reasons. The plan has three separate components that work together: Sick Pay, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability. There is no cost to the employee for this coverage. Plans may vary by location.
Gannett Flexible Spending Account: A tax-efficient way for employees to pay routine health and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. You can use pre-tax dollars to pay for expenses not covered by the medical/dental plan: eligible day care and elder care expenses; and over-the-counter drugs (e.g., allergy medicines, cough medicines, antacids and pain relievers).
Employee Home Mortgage Program: Available through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and GMAC Mortgage, this program offers Gannett employees and their immediate family members a convenient way to secure home financing or mortgage refinancing with competitive interest rates and fees.
ENHANCING WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Vacation: Gannett believes the wellness and performance of our employees are enhanced by annual vacations. Our vacation plan provides increasing time off in relation to years of service and enables eligible employees to earn and use vacation in the same year.
Floating Holidays: Provides floating holidays that employees may use any time during the calendar year with the approval of their supervisor.
Holidays: Gannett locations observe a minimum of 6 holidays per year. Some locations may vary.
Family and Medical Leave: Full-time employees who have been employed for at least 90 days are eligible for up to 12 weeks’ unpaid leave in a rolling 52-week period for one or more of the following reasons: the birth of a child/to care for a newborn child; to care for a newly-adopted child or a child placed in home for foster care; to care for a child, spouse or parent who has a serious health condition; or for an employee’s own serious health condition.
Adoption Assistance Plan: Helps you pay the expenses incurred in adopting a child. The plan will reimburse 100% of the eligible expenses to a maximum of $ 2,500. Eligible expenses include agency, legal and court fees and temporary foster care charges. Lifeworks: An independent service, provided by Ceridian-OneSource, assists employees in managing personal and family responsibilities with practical advice, useful materials and local information for childcare, elder care, adoption and much more. Tuition Assistance Program: Supports educational development and reimburses 100% of the cost for tuition and books for job-related courses, up to $ 1,500 per calendar year.
Madelyn P. Jennings Scholarship Awards: The Gannett Foundation sponsors one-time awards of $ 3,000 given annually in the spring to children of full-time Gannett employees who are about to enter college.
Matching Gifts Program: The Gannett Foundation matches employees’ contributions to private schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and other charitable or non-profit organizations up to a maximum of $ 10,000 per year.
Employee Discount Programs: Gannett employees are eligible to participate in a number of discount programs offered by companies such as Sony, Dell, Apple, Microsoft, Corporate Perks, Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, General Motors and others.”