The content duties of a public broadcaster are in Art. 5. Four of the thirteen subparagraphs are directly about reporting.
The Reporting Subparagraphs
| Subpara. | Provision |
|---|---|
| k | To adhere, in the gathering, selection and broadcasting of news, to the principles of impartiality, accuracy and promptness and to contemporary reporting techniques and methods |
| l | To separate news from comment and to disclose the sources of comment |
| m | To make sufficient broadcasts on matters concerning public opinion so that public opinion may form soundly and freely; not to make one-sided, partisan broadcasts and not to become an instrument of the interests of a political party, group, interest circle, belief or thought |
| j | To be respectful of the private lives, honour and dignity of persons and to remain bound to an understanding of honesty |
The Other Subparagraphs
- (a) To be bound to the letter and spirit of the Constitution; to protect and safeguard the indivisible integrity of the State with its territory and nation, national sovereignty, the Republic, public order, general security and the public interest
- (b) To root Atatürk's principles and reforms and to realise the attainment of the national goals of rising above the level of contemporary civilisation
- (c) To comply with the requirements of the State's national security policy and its national and economic interests
- (d) Not to give place to the propaganda of regimes and ideologies aiming to secure the government of the State by one person or class, or the domination of one social class over others, or to abolish the authority of the State, or to create discrimination on grounds of language, race, religion and sect
- (e) To observe the requirements of public morals, national traditions and spiritual values
- (f) To comply with the basic views, aims and principles of Turkish national education
- (g) To use easily intelligible, correct, clean and beautiful Turkish
- (h) Not to give place to matters that will harm the physical and mental health of society
- (i) Not to make broadcasts aimed at arousing and inculcating negative feelings such as pessimism, hopelessness, disorder, terror and aggression
Is There a Sanction?
We cover the disciplinary regime in the discipline guide.
Its Relationship with Law No. 6112
As a media service provider TRT is also subject to the broadcasting service principles of Law No. 6112. The text of Art. 56/B of Law No. 2954 reflects that duality expressly: "the general broadcasting principles or the broadcasting service principles" - the first being Art. 5 of Law No. 2954, the second Art. 8 of Law No. 6112.
| Issue | Law No. 2954 Art. 5 | Law No. 6112 Art. 8 |
|---|---|---|
| To whom does it apply? | TRT | All media service providers |
| Impartiality | Subparagraphs (k) and (m) | Subparagraph (ı) - impartiality, truth and accuracy |
| Verification of news | (k) - contemporary reporting techniques and methods | (ı) - may not be broadcast without investigation or without being sure of its accuracy |
| Attribution | (l) - to disclose the sources of comment | (ı) - it is compulsory to state the source of news taken from agencies or another media source |
| Presumption of innocence | Not separately listed | (i) - no one may be declared guilty unless their guilt has become final by a judicial decision |
| Child protection | Subparagraph (h), general | Art. 8/2 - the time slot and the protective symbol |
We cover the Law No. 6112 regime in the RTUK guide.
Summary
Art. 5 of Law No. 2954 lists thirteen general broadcasting principles. Those decisive for reporting are: impartiality, accuracy and promptness (k); separating news from comment and disclosing the source of the comment (l); not making one-sided and partisan broadcasts (m); and respect for the private life, honour and dignity of persons (j). A breach of those principles is tied directly to a sanction in the disciplinary articles of the Law.