The leader writer and the writer are listed in the legislation in the same sub-paragraph and subject to the same two conditions.
The Text of the Sub-Paragraph
Having their own column and writing periodically; the leader writer and the writer.
| Condition | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | Having their own column |
| 2 | Writing periodically |
In Which Lists Does It Appear?
| Type of publication | Sub-paragraph | Present? |
|---|---|---|
| Daily political newspapers | Art. 19/1-ğ | Yes |
| Weekly political newspapers and magazines | Art. 20/1-ğ | Yes |
| Non-political newspapers and magazines | Art. 21/1-ğ | Yes |
| Fortnightly and less frequent publications | Art. 22/1-f | Yes |
| Internet news sites | Art. 27/1-ğ | Yes |
| News and photo agencies | Art. 24 | No |
| Anadolu Agency | Art. 23 | No |
| TRT | Art. 25 | No |
| Radio and television | Art. 26 | No |
The Difference Between Leader Writer and Writer
The Regulation lists both in the same sub-paragraph on the same conditions and draws no definitional distinction. By custom the leader writer is the person who writes the piece reflecting the basic line of the publication; but that distinction comes from industry tradition, not from the legislation.
The Legal Responsibility of the Writer
Under Law No. 5187 criminal liability belongs primarily to the author of the work. We covered the liability of the editor-in-chief for a writer’s piece in the liability of the editor-in-chief.
The Writer in the Official Announcement Staff
The 2025 amendments to the Official Announcements and Advertisements Regulation introduced a special regime for writers:
Art. 18/3 (Added: Official Gazette 10/12/2025-33103): those employed as writers are not included in that number and the residence condition is not required of them.
Columnist Writing
We covered the periodic writing condition in the columnist and the periodic writing condition.
Conclusion
The leader writer and the writer are listed in the Press Card Regulation in the same sub-paragraph and subject to two conditions: having their own column and writing periodically. The title exists at newspapers, magazines, fortnightly publications and internet news sites, and does not appear in the agency, Anadolu Agency, TRT and radio-TV lists. In the official announcement legislation, writers have been exempt from the commercial activity and residence conditions since 2025.