TEAM
At bja, you’ll learn from people who've spent years in the field, and believe in what they do.
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BJA founder, editor, journalist // Reporting, pitching, investigation, publishing, critical media
Nadja is a London-trained journalist with 27 years of experience across the board. She started her career in Moscow, as a news agency staffer (AFP), while writing investigation pieces for the English language press (MoscowTimes). After she reported the war in Chechnya (ZDF, France 2) despite the media blockade, leading to her being blacklisted by Putin’s regime and exiled. In 2002 Nadja co-founded Germany’s largest English-language magazine, Exberliner, reputed for its first-hand journalism ethos and independent spirit, and original reportage pieces. Under her editorship Exberliner was dubbed “Europe’s best Expat magazine” by The Guardian. Nadja’s teaching experience started at the University of Moscow, where she ran sociology seminars. Today besides teaching, she writes, curates panel talks and screening events. Nadja also currently leads a transnational journalism investigation into the mainstream media’s coverage of Gaza since Oct. 7 in France, Germany, and Italy.
Through her workshop and classes, Nadja doesn’t only share the knowhow of an accomplished reporter, but also the insider’s experience she’s gathered over 20 years hiring, editing and coaching reporters as an Editor-in-Chief.
“I’m passionate about journalism and I love teaching. I believe in learning by doing, through workshops led by real-world professionals who care about the job. More than ever, we need good, well-trained, discerning journalists.”
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Graphic designer // Layout and designMaiia Dadunashvili is a graphic designer with over two years of studio experience, focusing on editorial design and visual identity. She has designed the cover for LOGOS, one of Russia’s leading youth philosophical-literary magazines, and developed the distinctive visual identity for BJA. Her experience also includes working on the BJA x TTJ August collaborative issue, as well as design collaborations with IFA and Miles. With BJA Maia offers first-hand experience in how thoughtful design shapes and ultimately amplifies written narratives. She contributes to production workshops, laying out students’ pieces and designing editorial concepts for BJA magazines.
“Layout is that collective magic when words come to life on the page, texts shape out into articles, and ultimately a magazine materialises!”
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Journalist, video producer // Multimedia, video journalism
Zhou Sifan is a journalist and video producer with over nine years of experience, beginning her career at Shanghai Media Group as a director for major programs like "Chinese Idol" and "China's Got Talent." She holds a Master's in Broadcasting and Communication from Fudan University, a leading institution in Asia renowned for its journalism program. Currently based in Berlin, she has worked as a Digital News Editor for international agencies, including Ruptly and Viory. She now produces video news for social media clients and conducts vox-pop interviews with her own equipment. Zhou is also a co-host and producer of the "OnCall" podcast and is developing an independent documentary about the Chinese diaspora community in Berlin.
Zhou brings extensive practical experience in digital and video journalism to the classroom. She’ll show you how to create short form ‘spotlight’ videos about your chosen topic.
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Coordinator
Max is a Berlin-based political researcher and BJA’s educational coordinator. Trained in political history and international relations, he is eager to work on community building and to enhance crosscultural communication. A Liberal Arts college graduate Max has extensive experience organising school events and coordinating student programs.
The newest member of BJA, he will be overseeing course flow and provide general coordination to participants for a smoother communication.
“I believe in a small-group approach and collective creativity :) Joining BJA was a way for me to do both while discovering professional journalism practised and taught by people who care deeply about it.”
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Journalist // Podcast, first person reporting in print and on screen
Ben Knight is a Berlin-based journalist and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Deutsche Welle, The Guardian, Prospect, the New Statesman, Vice, 100Reporters, derFreitag and elsewhere. His features have covered German arms makers in the Black Forest, zoophilia in Essen, pagan cults in Brandenburg, illegal fishing in Sierra Leone… up to and including colonic irrigation. In 2021, AP published his investigation into corruption in the Chinese healthcare system, produced with the US investigative group 100Reporters. In 2024, he completed his first documentary, entitled "We're All Going To Die". Ben has also been running a German politics podcast since 2018.
With Ben you’ll learn the shenanigans of first-person reportage pieces, and the art of immersing while keeping the right distance, in print, on air and for the screen.
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Journalist // Data journalism
Arthur is a freelance data journalist from Paris. He’s a regular contributor to French daily l'Humanité, where he covers news pieces on Economy, International affairs, Society and Politics. Dumas is above all a recognised specialist on Investigative data journalism, which he also teaches at a journalism institute, ESJ Pro in Montpellier, France.
With Arthur you'll learn how to quantify social issues using the latest tech, and develop tools to identify (and avoid) media bias, and that in data journalism correlation does not imply causality.
“One cannot be neutral, but, as a journalist your methods should be.”
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Journalist // International and political analysis
Muhammad Sheraz is an international journalist focusing on South and Central Asia with over 30 years of experience . He started his career in Pakistan in the early 1990s hosting high profile political TV talk shows and worked for the BBC World Service, where he produced investigative reports on Islamic militancy among British Muslims. Sheraz reported on Afghanistan politics from the 1980s and conducted many interviews with key protagonists from King Zahir Shah, ex PM Benazir Bhutto, and Ahmad Masood. Between 2001 and 2006, Sheraz extensively covered conflict and peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan, later serving as editor for Middle East and South and Central Asia news at Future News Service in London. As senior producer at Press TV London, he helped launch the popular show Behind the Headlines. Recognized for his insightful analysis, Sheraz also regularly provides political commentary for Al-Jazeera TV Qatar.
Sheraz brings our students a wider non-western perspective and the experience of an insider of world news-making as a reporter, producer and commentator.
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Bootcamp programme manager
Will has been running the Treetop journalism programme in Berlin for the last five years. He coordinates BJA’s spring-session Bootcamps.