The Media Program provides direct support for developing professional membership-based associations, including through partnerships with appropriate international bodies and umbrella institutions. Priority is given to genuinely representative organizations for specific initiatives in their respective professional fields.

The Media Program also supports intra-regional associations, which are often effective in developing comprehensive approaches and overcoming internal political problems that can hinder associations' development.

Target groups include, but are not limited to, the following:

• membership-based journalist and media workers associations (including trade unions) that help build solidarity and professionalism among journalists, protect and defend journalists' rights (including free-speech standards and labor rights), and develop codes of ethics;
• associations that support coalitions among private broadcasters in areas such as development and monitoring of broadcasting legislation, protection of rights, and provision of programming networking and exchange;
• associations of media editors and owners that work to ensure more equitable business, management, and professional conditions for the development of media outlets.