A press card is not given to everyone working at a media organisation. The legislation establishes two separate filters: an organisation filter and a role filter.
1. The Organisation Filter — Art. 7/2
| Organisation | Press card |
|---|---|
| Private sector organisations not providing services in the media field | Cannot be given |
| Professional organisations having the character of a public institution | Cannot be given |
| Foreign representations in Turkey | Cannot be given |
2. The Role Filter — Working in the News Field
| Organisation | Provision | Sub-paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Anadolu Agency | No press card is given to those who do not work in the news field at Anadolu Agency. | Art. 23/2 |
| TRT | No 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 television | No 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 |
3. Limiting Qualifications Within Sub-Paragraphs
| Title | Qualification | Sub-paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Designer graphic artist | Taking part in the news field | Art. 19/1-j and its equivalents |
| Regional/provincial representative (at agencies) | Concerned with the news | Art. 24/1-e |
| Leader writer and writer | Having their own column and writing periodically | Art. 19/1-ğ and its equivalents |
| Responsible manager | Residing in the place of publication/administration | Arts. 19/1-ç, 24/1-ç |
| News manager/editor/sub-editor/chief | Working in one of the 17 news fields | Art. 19/1-g and its equivalents |
Roles That Fall Outside the Scope in Practice
When the three filters above are applied together, the following roles are not on the list even if the person works at a publishing organisation:
- Employees of the advertising and marketing unit
- Employees of the accounting and finance unit
- Human resources and administrative support personnel
- IT and technical infrastructure personnel — where outside the news field
- Distribution, printing and logistics personnel
- Producers, directors and presenters of non-news programmes
To Whom May It Be Given? — Art. 7/1
The positive list has six sub-paragraphs:
- a) To the Turkish citizen media members of media organisations operating in Turkey
- b) To the owners of periodicals or the representatives of legal persons and to the chairs of the boards of directors of radio and television organisations
- c) To foreign media members — those whose field of duty covers Turkey and those who come temporarily for news purposes
- ç) To the Turkish citizen owners and employees of media organisations publishing abroad
- d) To Turkish citizen media members working as freelance journalists abroad
- e) To public personnel working in public institutions and organisations that provide services in the media field 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 working for the public benefit, on condition that they operate in the media field
Conclusion
A press card may not be given to those working in the publishing activities of private sector organisations that do not provide services in the media field, of professional organisations having the character of a public institution, or of foreign representations (Art. 7/2). In addition, at Anadolu Agency, TRT and radio and television organisations no card is given to those who do not work in the news field, even if they work in the titles on the list. Advertising, marketing, accounting and administrative support roles fall outside those filters.