The legislation places a filter on graphic work: the title alone is not enough — one must take part in the news field.

The Qualification in the Sub-Paragraph

The art director or the page secretary or the designer graphic artist taking part in the news field.

Where Does It Appear?

Type of publicationSub-paragraph
Daily political newspapersArt. 19/1-j
Weekly political newspapers and magazinesArt. 20/1-j
Non-political newspapers and magazinesArt. 21/1-i
Fortnightly and less frequent publicationsArt. 22/1-h
News and photo agenciesArt. 24/1-j
Internet news sitesArt. 27/1-j

Why Does the Qualification Exist?

At publishing organisations graphic design is not done only for news pages: there are also advertising, corporate communication and marketing designs. The qualification ensures that graphic artists working in those areas fall outside the scope of the press card.

Similar Qualifications Elsewhere in the Legislation

OrganisationProvisionSub-paragraph
Anadolu AgencyNo press card is given to those who do not work in the news field at Anadolu Agency.Art. 23/2
TRTNo press card is given to those who do not work in the news field at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. (Added: Official Gazette 6/6/2024-32568-Presidential Decision 8624/5)Art. 25/2
Radio and televisionNo press card is given to those who do not work in the news field, even if they work in the titles listed above.Art. 26/2-f
Agency representativesRegional representative or provincial representative concerned with the newsArt. 24/1-e

We covered the detail in what working in the news field means.

The Graphic Artist at Anadolu Agency

In the Anadolu Agency list the graphic artist is listed in four grades: chief graphic artists (Art. 23/1-f), senior graphic artists (Art. 23/1-g), graphic artists (Art. 23/1-ğ) and assistant graphic artists (Art. 23/1-h). We covered the detail in the graphic artist and chief graphic artist agency titles.

Being Counted in the Staff

Official Announcements and Advertisements Regulation Art. 18/2-c: it is compulsory that they actually do the work corresponding to the duties stated in their contracts.

Checklist

  • Is the title written as “designer graphic artist” in the employment contract?
  • Is the news field expressly stated in the job description?
  • Is news page / news content design actually being done?
  • Are the advertising and corporate design tasks with a different person?
  • Was the staff notification made to İLANBİS within 3 working days?

Conclusion

The designer graphic artist may obtain a press card under the Press Card Regulation only with the qualification “taking part in the news field”. That qualification is not imposed on the art director and the page secretary in the same sub-paragraph. A similar limit is also expressly laid down for Anadolu Agency (Art. 23/2), TRT (Art. 25/2) and radio and television (Art. 26/2-f).