The staff additional indicator rewards publications employing editorial staff in multiples of the minimum roster. The calculation is regulated in different articles and with different rates for newspapers and online news sites: Article 48 for newspapers, Article 66 for online news sites.
The common rule: quality and breakdown must be preserved
Both articles begin with the same words: with the qualifications specified in Articles 18 and 19 and in proportion to the duties and numbers of the minimum editorial roster. Those two conditions distinguish the additional indicator from a mere increase in headcount.
Newspapers: the staff and surface area indicator (Art. 48)
For newspapers the additional indicator is not tied to staff alone; it is required together with a surface area condition. Multiplying the roster is not enough on its own — the newspaper must also reach a defined surface area.
| Roster | Newspaper | Minimum surface area | Additional indicator rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2× | National, and those published in İstanbul | 3.00 m² | 1/3 |
| 2× | Other newspapers | 2.25 m² | 1/3 |
| 3× | National newspapers | 3.70 m² | 2/3 |
The third row is open only to national newspapers: three times the roster and 3.70 m² of surface area for a rate of 2/3, the highest staff additional indicator in the legislation.
Online news sites: the staff indicator (Art. 66)
Here there is no surface area condition, and the rates are lower.
| Roster | Additional indicator rate |
|---|---|
| 2× the minimum roster | 1/6 |
| 3× the minimum roster | 1/4 |
An example: the minimum roster of a 3rd Category online news site is 8. Employing 16 gives an additional indicator of 1/6 and employing 24 gives 1/4. Since the basic indicator is 150, 1/6 adds 25 and 1/4 adds 37.5.
Combining staff with traffic: the visitor traffic indicator (Art. 67)
For online news sites the real lever is in Article 67, and that article requires staff and traffic together:
| Condition | Additional indicator rate |
|---|---|
| Employing at least 2× the minimum editorial staff for the category and exceeding 2× the minimum unique visitor figure | 1/2 |
| Employing at least 3× and exceeding 3× the minimum unique visitor figure | 1× |
Those rates are far above Article 66’s: 1/2 and 1×. With the same roster, doubling traffic as well raises the additional indicator from 1/6 to 1/2. In online news sites, therefore, staffing produces value not on its own but together with traffic.
The effect on the total indicator
Under Article 72(2) the total indicator is found by adding the product of the basic indicator and the additional rate to the basic indicator. A comparison for an online news site:
| Situation | Rate | Total indicator |
|---|---|---|
| No additional indicator | — | 150 |
| Staff 2× (Art. 66) | 1/6 | 175 |
| Staff 3× (Art. 66) | 1/4 | 187.5 |
| Staff + traffic 2× (Art. 67) | 1/2 | 225 |
| Staff + traffic 3× (Art. 67) | 1× | 300 |
The table shows clearly where investment in staff pays off: if you can also multiply your traffic, the indicator doubles.
Conclusion
What matters for the staff additional indicator is employing multiples of the minimum roster while preserving the qualifications and the breakdown. For newspapers that produces 1/3 or 2/3 together with a surface area condition; for online news sites 1/6 or 1/4 on its own, rising to 1/2 or 1× when combined with traffic.
Application conditions are in the additional indicator guide and the roster tables in the minimum roster guide.