There are three separate groups with an overseas dimension and they should not be confused: foreign media members, the staff of Turkish organisations broadcasting abroad, and Turkish citizens doing freelance journalism abroad.
Three Groups
The first paragraph of Art. 7 of the Press Card Regulation lists them in separate subparagraphs:
| Subpara. | Group | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| c | Foreign media members acting on behalf of media outlets whose area of duty covers Turkey, and foreign media members coming for news purposes for a limited period | Foreign |
| ç | Owners and employees of media outlets broadcasting abroad | Turkish citizen |
| d | Media members doing freelance journalism abroad | Turkish citizen |
Its Counterpart in the Law
Additional Art. 2 of Law No. 5187 makes the same distinction and provides in subparagraph (ç) that a press card may be issued to the Turkish citizen owners and employees of media outlets broadcasting abroad.
The Application Procedure
The fifth paragraph of Art. 28 provides a separate procedure for those abroad: Turkish press members resident abroad make their application by sending to the Directorate:
- (a) Their application papers,
- (b) A letter stating that their situation has been confirmed by the embassy or consulate general in the country of residence.
The General Conditions Apply
The second paragraph of Art. 8 lists a group of exemptions, and Turkish citizen media members working at foreign press and broadcasting organisations are in it. For those persons the conditions in subparagraphs (f) and (g) of the first paragraph are not sought:
| Subpara. | Condition | Sought in this group? |
|---|---|---|
| f | A contract conforming to Law No. 5953 + working without a break of more than one month | Not sought |
| g | Not engaging in commercial activity outside media activity | Not sought |
| a-e | Age, education, incapacity and criminal conditions | Sought |
The Third Group: Freelance Journalism
The fourth paragraph of Art. 13 opens a separate route: a free press card may be issued to Turkish citizen journalists working as freelance journalists abroad without being attached to any media outlet, where their situation is confirmed by the embassy or consulate in the country concerned.
We cover it in the free press card guide.
Foreign Bureau Staff Are a Separate Matter
Distinct from these, quota rules apply to those working in the foreign bureau of a publication based in Turkey:
| Organisation | Foreign bureau staff | Article |
|---|---|---|
| National radio and television | No quota limit | Art. 26/2-a |
| National and regional daily newspapers (surface area above 1.20 m²) | No quota limit | Art. 19/2-a |
| Local daily newspapers (the same scale) | At most 25% | Art. 19/2-a |
| Regional and local radio-TV | No cards issued | Art. 26/2-e |
| News and photograph agencies | No cards issued | Art. 24 |
We cover it in the foreign bureau guide.
The Permanent Card Route Is Open
Because this group are Turkish citizens the permanent press card route is not closed. The prohibition in Art. 14/3 applies only to foreign media members.
Summary
- The Turkish citizen owners and employees of media outlets broadcasting abroad may obtain a press card under Art. 7/1-ç.
- The application is made with a confirmation letter from the Turkish embassy or consulate general in the country of residence.
- The Law No. 5953 contract and commercial activity conditions are not sought in this group; the permanent card route is open.