As a rule, no. The Regulation makes this a condition of the card outright - but there is an important list of exemptions.
The Rule: Art. 8/1-g
Subparagraph (g) of the first paragraph of Art. 8 of the Press Card Regulation requires that the applicant does not engage in commercial activity outside media activity.
The Exemption: Art. 8/2
The second paragraph lists the groups from whom subparagraphs (f) and (g) are not sought:
- Owners of periodicals, or the representatives of legal persons that own them
- Board chairs of radio and television outlets
- Employees of public institutions and organisations who may hold a press card
- Turkish citizens working as media members for foreign press and broadcasting organisations
| Who | (f) contract and no break | (g) bar on commercial activity |
|---|---|---|
| Media member employed by an outlet | Applies | Applies |
| Periodical owner / representative of a legal person | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Board chair of a radio or TV outlet | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Public institution employee eligible for a card | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Turkish citizen working for a foreign outlet | Does not apply | Does not apply |
Permanent Cards
Art. 14/2 provides that applicants for a permanent press card must meet the other conditions, save for the condition in Art. 8/1-f.
Free Cards
Art. 13/2-a has the same structure: applicants for a free press card must meet the other conditions save for subparagraph (f). So subparagraph (g) applies to free cards as well.
How This Is Checked
Under Art. 29 the Directorate may request information and documents about applicants from tax offices, the Social Security Institution, professional press organisations, governorships, the Directorate General of Criminal Records and Statistics, the Directorate General of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs, the Press Advertising Agency, or any other body it considers necessary.
Losing the Condition Later
Art. 38/1-a: where it emerges that the card holder does not have, or has subsequently lost, the qualities set out in Art. 8 or Art. 9, the card is cancelled by the Directorate. The same paragraph continues: once the grounds of cancellation have disappeared, the person seeking a press card must apply afresh.
Summary
- A press card holder must not engage in commercial activity outside media activity (Art. 8/1-g).
- The condition is not sought from periodical owners, representatives of legal persons, board chairs of radio and TV outlets, public institution employees and Turkish citizens working for foreign outlets (Art. 8/2).
- Permanent and free cards are exempt only from subparagraph (f), not from (g).
- Losing the condition later is a ground for cancelling the card.