As a rule yes - but a principle decision from 1996 grants significant flexibility in how the rule is applied.
The Basic Rule
Arts. 17, 45 and 75 of Press Advertising Agency General Assembly Decision No. 67 of 15 February 1977 contain the condition that newspapers be printed within the boundaries of the "place of publication", the "municipality" or the "metropolitan municipality".
Principle Decision No. 141
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Decision number | 141 |
| Date of decision | 16/08/1996 |
| Official Gazette | 22/08/1996 - No. 22735 |
| Basis | Law No. 195 Art. 38 |
| Applicant | The Haberci newspaper published in Yalova - 6 August 1996 |
The decision lists the concrete reasons that can put the place of printing outside the place of publication:
- The establishment of organised or small industrial zones
- Obligations imposed by the Regulation on Unhygienic Establishments
- The removal of printing sites outside the city by a decision of the municipal council
- Administrative divisions and mergers relating to the creation of new provinces, districts or municipalities
- A change in the administrative authority to which it is attached, and similar matters
The Condition and Measures of the Flexibility
| Measure | What is looked at |
|---|---|
| Adjacency | Whether the place of printing adjoins the municipal boundary and its adjacent area |
| Distance | The distance between the offices and the place of printing |
| Transport | Transport facilities |
| Efficiency | Whether the work is done more economically, technically, easily and consistently with its purpose |
Why Does the Condition Exist?
The place-of-printing condition is part of the locality thinking of the official announcement regime: official announcements go to publications that actually produce where they are published. The same logic appears in the residence condition in Art. 20 of Decision No. 67 - those to be included in the minimum staff must reside in the place where the newspaper they work for is published.
Principle Decision No. 94 of 16/08/1985 interprets the word "place" in the residence condition with similar flexibility: regard is had to the distance between the offices and the residence and to transport facilities, and to whether the duty is performed in a manner consistent with its purpose and on a continuing basis. The logic of the two decisions is the same.
If the Place of Printing Is to Change
- Verify that the place of printing remains within the same province.
- Document the reason for the change - the establishment of an industrial zone, a council decision, an administrative division and so on.
- Set out in writing the distance between the offices and the place of printing and the transport facilities.
- Apply to the Press Advertising Agency branch in writing for an opinion before the change.
- The place of printing is information shown in the imprint (Law No. 5187 Art. 4 - the place of printing); update the imprint.
Summary
- Decision No. 67 requires newspapers to be printed within the boundaries of the place of publication.
- Principle Decision No. 141 provides that where the place of printing falls outside for reasons such as industrial zones, council decisions and administrative divisions, an assessment is made on adjacency, distance, transport and efficiency, provided it remains within the same province.