A press card is not a document issued once and then forgotten. Art. 42 of the Press Card Regulation sets up a continuing audit regime.
Four Paragraphs, Four Duties
| Para. | Content |
|---|---|
| (1) | The Directorate checks at intervals whether press cards retain their validity |
| (2) | Media outlets send, on request, approved lists containing the details of their press-card-holding employees |
| (3) | The Directorate may request that professional work be sent during the audit |
| (4) | The owner of a media outlet that does not notify in accordance with the procedure is warned by the Directorate |
What Goes in the Requested List?
The second paragraph enumerates the contents. The approved list must contain:
- The name and surname of press-card-holding employees
- Their title
- Their press card number
- Contract details, or collective agreement details where applicable
Professional Work May Be Requested
The third paragraph shows that the audit does not run on paperwork alone: the Directorate may request that professional work be sent during the audit.
This points the same way as the application-stage condition of "a document evidencing at least six months of professional work" (Art. 28/1): the card rests on the assumption that journalism is actually being done, and that assumption is auditable.
An Outlet That Does Not Notify Is Warned
The fourth paragraph is tied to the notification duty in Art. 36: the owner of a media outlet that does not notify changes of workplace and title within one month is warned by the Directorate.
Do Not Confuse This with Information Gathering at the Application Stage
Art. 29 governs the Directorate's information gathering at the application stage: information may be requested from professional press organisations, governorships, the Directorate General of Criminal Records and Statistics, tax offices, the Social Security Institution, the Directorate General of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs and the Press Advertising Agency.
| Stage | What happens | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Application | The Directorate requests information and documents from the relevant bodies | Art. 29/1 |
| After the card is issued | The Directorate checks validity at intervals | Art. 42/1 |
The Outcome of an Audit: Cancellation
If an audit shows that the person or the outlet does not meet the conditions, Art. 38 comes into play and the card is cancelled by the Directorate. We cover this in the cancellation guide.
Summary
- The Directorate checks the validity of cards at intervals.
- Media outlets send, on request, an approved list of name, title, card number and contract details.
- Professional work may also be requested during an audit.
- An outlet owner who fails to notify properly is warned - and the condition itself may be lost.