This is one of the most commonly misunderstood points in practice. When Article 1 of Law No. 5953 lists its scope, it does not list radio and television.
What the Statutory Text Says
Article 1 provides: the provisions of this Law apply to persons working in any kind of intellectual and artistic work at newspapers, internet news sites and periodicals and at news and photo agencies published in Turkey, who fall outside the definition of "worker" in the Labour Law, and to their employers.
| Organisation | Within the scope of Law 5953? |
|---|---|
| Newspaper | Yes |
| Internet news site | Yes — from 18/10/2022 by Law 7418 |
| Periodical (magazine etc.) | Yes |
| News and photo agency | Yes |
| Radio | Not listed in the article |
| Television | Not listed in the article |
What the Difference Costs
| Subject | Law 5953 (press/site/agency) | Law 4857 (radio-TV) |
|---|---|---|
| Seniority | From first entry into the profession | Service with the same employer |
| Annual leave | 4 weeks; 6 weeks after 10 years in the profession | 14–26 days by seniority |
| Annual bonus | Mandatory — at least one month's wage | No statutory obligation |
| Night overtime | Hours after 00:00 at double | No separate rate |
| Wage payment | Monthly in advance | In return for work performed |
What About Mixed Structures?
In practice many organisations run several outlets under one roof: a television channel also operates an internet news site, a radio company has a news website. There, what matters is which outlet and which job the person actually works in.
The Press Card Side Works Differently
For press card purposes radio and television are not outside the scope. Article 17 of the Press Card Regulation sets out the conditions required at private radio and television stations, and Article 26 the titles and quotas that may obtain a card.
However, Article 8(1)(f) requires a contract compliant with Law 5953 to have been made. How the two regimes apply together in a specific case may be arguable; before applying, check the current announcements of the Directorate of Communications and take advice.
Law 6112 Is a Separate Regime
Radio and television broadcasting itself is governed by Law No. 6112; but Law 6112 is broadcasting legislation and does not regulate the employment rights of staff. The organisation's broadcasting obligations and the employee's employment law regime sit on separate planes.
Bottom Line
Article 1 of Law 5953 does not list radio and television; its scope is limited to newspapers, internet news sites, periodicals and news and photo agencies. For news staff working only at a radio or television station, general employment legislation applies. In mixed structures, the outlet the person actually works for is decisive.