Until 2022 the press card was governed only by a regulation. The eight additional articles added by Law No. 7418 established the statutory framework of the card.
Why at the Level of Statute?
Additional Article 1: Application, Character and Types
A press card application is made to the Directorate. The press card is an identity document of an official character.
| Type | To whom |
|---|---|
| Post-linked press card | To Turkish citizen media members and information officers working attached to a media organisation |
| Fixed-term press card | To foreign media members whose area of duty covers Turkey |
| Temporary press card | To foreign media members whose area of duty does not cover Turkey but who come to Turkey for news purposes for a temporary period |
| Free press card | To Turkish citizen media members not working for a temporary period or doing freelance journalism abroad |
| Permanent press card | To media members and information officers with at least eighteen years of professional service - for life |
Additional Article 2: To Whom May It Be Given?
A press card may be given to the following persons:
- (a) To the Turkish citizen media members of media organisations operating in Turkey
- (b) To the owners of periodicals or their legal person representatives and to the chairs of the boards of directors of radio and television stations
- (c) To foreign media members acting on behalf of media organisations whose area of duty covers Turkey, and to foreign media members coming to Turkey for news purposes for a temporary period
- (ç) To the Turkish citizen owners and employees of media organisations broadcasting abroad
- (d) To Turkish citizen media members doing freelance journalism abroad
- (e) To public personnel working in public institutions and organisations providing service in the field of media and in the information services carried out by public institutions and organisations
- (f) To the managers of trade unions and of associations and foundations established to be operating in the public benefit, provided they operate in the field of media
Additional Article 3: The Conditions Required
| Subpara. | Condition |
|---|---|
| a | To have completed the age of 18 |
| b | To be a graduate of at least a high school or an equivalent educational institution |
| c | Not to be under a restriction or barred from public service |
| ç | Even if the periods stated in Art. 53 of Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 have passed, not to have been sentenced to imprisonment of five years or more for a deliberately committed offence or convicted of the offences listed in the article |
| d | Not to have been convicted of the offences in Arts. 3, 4 and 6 of the Anti-Terror Law or under Art. 4 of Law No. 6415 on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism |
| e | Not to have been convicted of the offences in the second paragraph of Art. 25 of this Law |
| f | To have made a contract in conformity with the provisions of Law No. 5953 and to work without a break of more than one month from the date they left work, apart from compelling reasons |
| g | Not to engage in commercial activity outside media activity |
Two Exemptions
| Who | Condition not required |
|---|---|
| Owners of periodicals or legal person representatives, chairs of the boards of directors of radio and television stations, employees of public institutions who may obtain a press card, Turkish citizen media members working in foreign press and broadcasting organisations | Subparagraphs (f) and (g) |
| Those requesting a permanent and free press card and those requesting a post-linked press card through TRT | Subparagraph (f) |
Additional Article 4: Foreign Media Members
A press card may be given by the Directorate to foreign media members requesting one, having regard also to the principle of reciprocity, where the following three conditions are met:
- (a) Documenting that they have been assigned by a media organisation
- (b) Having a work permit under International Labour Force Law No. 6735
- (c) Presenting the letter of introduction obtained from the embassy, legation or consulate in Turkey of the country where the head office of the organisation to which they are attached is located
We cover the detail in the foreign journalist guide.
Additional Article 5: The Press Card Commission - Nineteen Members
| Subpara. | Number of members | Who determines them |
|---|---|---|
| a | 3 | Representing the Directorate |
| b | 1 | The organisation with the most press card holding members among the professional organisations established by the owners and/or employees of periodicals |
| c | 4 | One member each from the professional organisations with the most press card holding members in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir + one member from provinces other than those |
| ç | 4 | By the Directorate from among the holders of a permanent press card |
| d | 1 | The one with the most members among the professional organisations established by the chairs of the boards of directors and/or the journalist employees of radio and/or television stations broadcasting at national level |
| e | 1 | By the Directorate from among journalists holding a post-linked press card |
| f | 2 | The union with the most press card holding members among those operating in the form of a workers' union |
| g | 3 | By the Directorate from among the deans of communication faculties or press card holding journalists |
| TOTAL | 19 | - |
The term of office of the members is two years. Members whose term ends may be re-elected. The Commission decides whether the applicant may hold a press card by assessing their qualifications, professional work, works and awards.
Additional Article 6: The Grounds of Cancellation
| Situation | Result | Deciding authority |
|---|---|---|
| It being understood that they do not have, or have subsequently lost, the qualifications in additional Art. 3 | The press card is cancelled | The Directorate |
| Conduct contrary to the principles of press ethics determined under Art. 49 of Law No. 195 | A warning or cancellation, having regard to the nature of the breach | The Commission |
Additional Article 7: The Consequences of Cancellation
- Where it is cancelled under additional Art. 6/2, no new press card is given until one year has passed from the date the card was returned.
- Those who fall into a position contrary to subparagraphs (ç), (d) and (e) of additional Art. 3/1 are not given a new press card unless it is established that action has been taken under Arts. 12 and/or 13/A of Criminal Records Law No. 5352.
Additional Article 8: The Regulation
The form of the press cards to be issued by the Directorate, the conditions to be required of media organisations, the quotas, the working and decision-making procedures of the Commission, the types of application and the documents to be required in an application are governed by a regulation to be issued by the Directorate.
The regulation in force is the Press Card Regulation (Presidential Decision 9/4/2023-7051; Official Gazette 10/4/2023-32159). We cover the details of application in the press card guide.
Provisional Article 4: Existing Cards
Press cards duly issued before the date this article entered into force continue to be valid provided they meet the conditions in additional Article 3.
Summary
Additional Arts. 1-8 of Law No. 5187 regulated the press card at the level of statute by Law No. 7418. The card is an identity document of an official character and has five types. An application requires the age of 18, at least a high school diploma, the criminal record conditions, a contract in conformity with Law No. 5953 and not engaging in commercial activity outside media activity; certain groups are exempt from subparagraphs (f) and (g). A Commission of nineteen members decides; the grounds of cancellation and its consequences are in additional Arts. 6 and 7.