Class Code 8818
Newspaper Publishing Or Printing – Editing And Designing
Class Code 8818 applies to newspaper publishing activities limited to editing, copy editing, page layout and graphic design — including digital edition design. The September 1, 2026 pure premium rate for California is $0.344 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the relatively low frequency/severity of claims in editorial and design work. Accurate classification matters because payroll placed to 8818 is treated differently than pressroom or distribution work.
What Class Code 8818 Covers
This classification covers employees whose primary duties are editorial and design tasks for newspapers and news websites: copy editors, reporters performing editing only, page designers, layout artists, graphic artists, photo editors, and digital content designers. It includes work creating page layouts, typesetting on computers, preparing digital files for publication, graphics and font work, proofreading, and editorial decision-making. Routine newsroom activities such as interviewing, fact-checking and writing are included only when the worker’s primary role is editing rather than press or distribution tasks. It does not cover heavy press operations, loading/unloading papers, route delivery, or maintenance of printing presses — those activities are classified separately.
Who It Applies To
- Newspaper copy editors and desk editors
- Page/layout designers and graphic artists for print and digital editions
- Photo editors and image preparers working on newspaper pages
- Prepress digital file preparers (not press operators)
- Digital content managers and web layout designers for newspaper sites
Common Job Duties
- Editing copy for grammar, style, and accuracy
- Designing page layouts and arranging type and images
- Creating and manipulating graphics, ads, and infographics
- Preparing digital files and PDFs for publication or handoff
- Proofreading and quality-checking pages and captions
- Coordinating with reporters, photographers, and ad sales for content
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $0.344 Rate
The pure premium rate ($0.344 per $100 of payroll) represents the carriers' estimate of expected claim costs per dollar of payroll for this classification. To calculate the pure loss portion: multiply payroll by the rate and divide by 100. Final premiums insurers charge will also include expense loads, policy fees, experience modification (E-mod), credits or debits for loss history, and any schedule or retrospective rating adjustments.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers with workers in this class must implement a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Title 8 requirements for hazard communication when any inks, solvents, or cleaning agents are present. Provide workstation ergonomic assessments and training to reduce repetitive motion injuries, maintain adequate lighting and monitor screen time, and keep safety data sheets (SDS) accessible. If staff enter press or prepress areas, apply machine guarding, lockout/tagout and respirator or ventilation controls per Cal/OSHA standards and report serious work-related injuries to Cal/OSHA as required.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8818
A PEO like Key HR can help newspapers and publishers properly classify editorial and design payroll, manage claims and return-to-work programs, and provide ergonomics training and workstation assessments to reduce repetitive injuries. Key HR consolidates payroll and reporting, administers an IIPP, provides access to safety consultants and group buying power for insurance—helping control losses, stabilize experience modification, and lower overall workers' comp costs.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Do freelance or remote editors fall under Class Code 8818?
If a worker is paid on the employer's payroll and their primary duties are editing or design for the newspaper, they are generally classified to 8818 whether working on-site or remotely. Independent contractors and truly freelance workers not on payroll are not classified on the employer's workers' comp policy but should be evaluated carefully for misclassification risk.
If an editor occasionally visits the printing press, do they need a different class code?
Occasional, infrequent visits to a pressroom do not typically change classification, but routine or substantial work in press operations, plate-making, loading, or maintenance requires reclassification to the appropriate press or production code because those activities carry different hazards.
What practical steps lower workers' comp costs for this class?
Focus on reducing ergonomic and stress-related claims: provide adjustable workstations, enforce micro-breaks, offer eye-screen health training, implement light-duty return-to-work plans, maintain a strong IIPP, and track near-misses. Accurate payroll classification and quick, proactive claims handling through a PEO also help keep experience modifiers and premiums down.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8818
- Classification
- Newspaper Publishing Or Printing – Editing And Designing
- Pure Premium Rate
- $0.344 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 8818?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.