Thirty-three journalists from the Maghreb region of Africa, including Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, entered into sometimes impassioned debate during the third annual Magharebia.com Writers Workshop, July 29 - August 1 at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis.

The conference is the second one sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The first conference was held by U.S. European Command (EUCOM) in 2007.

The workshop introduced newly hired writers to already established contributors to U.S. AFRICOM's Maghreb-centered news and information website, www.magharebia.com. The event also provided opportunities for networking and discussing potential topics for collaboration in this key region of Africa. The professional development training event introduced new media tools and technologies while stressing the importance of sound journalistic principles for writing, blogging and podcasting.

During the wrap-up dinner, several of the journalists who participated in the workshop shared their impressions. Jamel Arfaoui, a Tunisian journalist with Al Sahafa had attended all three annual workshops. He said, "I was impressed how the other contributors this time showed the ambition to go forward and the care they have about the quality of the work they publish. I feel now that the success of Magharebia.com is my own success. The reason is that I actually witnessed its birth and I know I have to give it my best so I can see it grow and succeed."

Magharebia.com was launched by EUCOM in 2005 as a website initiative to reach out to a younger audience in the North Africa region with news, sports, entertainment, and current affairs about the Maghreb in English, French and Arabic.

In 2008, the website was transferred to the oversight of U.S. Africa Command.