No. The Regulation deals with this expressly, and the prohibition is gathered in one paragraph.
The Text
Art. 7/2 of the Press Card Regulation: no press card may be issued under this Regulation to the personnel and employees engaged in publishing activities of private sector organisations not providing services in the media field, of professional organisations having the character of public institutions, and of foreign representations located in Turkey.
| Organisation | Card possible? |
|---|---|
| Private sector organisation not serving in the media field | No |
| Professional organisation having the character of a public institution | No |
| Foreign representation located in Turkey | No |
| Media outlet | Yes - Art. 7/1-a |
| Public institution providing services in the media field | Yes - Art. 7/1-e, as an information officer |
The Distinction: "Providing Services in the Media Field"
What is decisive is not the employee's job but the organisation's field of activity. Art. 4 defines a media outlet as an organisation within the scope of Law No. 5187 or Law No. 6112.
The Exception on the Public Side: Information Officers
Art. 7/1-e opens a door on the public side: a press card may be issued to public personnel working at public institutions and organisations providing services in the media field and in the information services carried out by public institutions and organisations.
Art. 4 defines an information officer as public personnel working in the State information services carried out by public institutions and organisations.
We cover this in the information officer guide.
What the Commission Looks At
Art. 35/4: where an application is made under the title of information officer, whether the applicant's title and the duties actually performed are media-related is taken into account.
Professional Organisations and Unions
Art. 7/1-f opens another door: a press card may be issued to the officers of unions and of associations and foundations determined to act in the public interest, provided they operate in the media field.
Can a Company Publication Be a Periodical?
It can - and that is a separate question. Under Art. 6 of Law No. 5187, natural and legal persons and public institutions and organisations may own a periodical; a corporate magazine published at regular intervals may count as a periodical.
Summary
- No press card may be issued to the publishing staff of private sector organisations not serving in the media field (Art. 7/2).
- The same bar applies to professional organisations having the character of public institutions and to foreign representations in Turkey.
- The exception is on the public side: public personnel in State information services may get a card as information officers.
- What is decisive is the organisation's field of activity, not the employee's job description.