COB ADDER — Nearly 60 journalists from southern Iraq recently met at Camp Dhi Qar to talk with Italian journalists and discuss the growth of Iraq’s free press.

"I think it is very important to have the cooperation between Iraqi media and Italian and international media," said Wathick Abdul Abed, an Iraqi journalist who writes for several local newspapers as well as websites.

Anna Marie Greco, an Italian journalist who spoke at the conference, discussed important issues in journalism such as bias in reporting, the Iraqi journalists overcoming their fears of retribution, and newsgathering techniques.

"The role of the journalist is very important in a free society," Greco said. "Until now, Iraqi journalists have not had the freedoms they should have, but now, they're learning what to ask and how to interview important people to get good stories."

Dr. Anna Prouse, leader of the Dhi Qar Provincial Reconstruction Team, also contributed to the discussion. She was an international journalist for several years in such places as Morocco and Lebanon.