Science

Increasing complexity, multidimensional questions, multilayered answers. For years I have been drawn to questions regarding the communicative challenges and opportunities of the digital realm – mediating between natural and social sciences and the humanities. Next to having published two scientific books, I am active as an expert host for symposia.

Projects 2025 (excerpt)

• ongoing
  Grimme Research Center for Media and Society
  Member of the Board of Trustees
  Expert advice to Grimme Research Center regarding media and society in the digital age (since 2018)
  Links Review
• Ongoing
  Scientific advisor on the topic Middle East in media and event ecosystems
  Scientific advisor for media companies, editorial departments, politics, foundations, culture and the event industry
  1. Media: Workshops and science-based media critique for balanced media coverage and quality journalism
  2. Events: secure and sensitive curation of events as well as consulting on communication strategies
• July 2025
  Book "Media between Power and Powerlessness"
  Co-author of a book on the crisis of journalism and the media
  "Media between Power and Powerlessness. How journalism can regain trust". A book about the central problems and challenges of German media as well as future scenarios for quality journalism
  Links Review Video Photo
• 2025-12-15
  University Hannover
  Lectureship
  Lecture about "German Reporting on Palestine and Israel: Journalistic Standards and Trust in Democratic Discourse" at the study program "Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography" at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover
  Links
• 2025-12-12
  Zeit zu Reden
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Discussion on "Propaganda, Public Diplomacy and the Role of the Media. A Critical Discussion on Strategies of State Communication"
  Links
• 2025-12-11
  Jung & Naiv
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Special episode "Discussion on Israel, Palestine & German Media" with Stephan Detjen (Deutschlandfunk), Hans Jessen and Tilo Jung
  Review Video Photo
• 2025-12-10
  Interview with SRF - Swiss Radio and Television
  Media critic and communication scientist
  Interview on "Middle East Reporting: Media Professionals under Pressure" - about the smear campaign against German journalist Sophie von der Tann and attacks on the free and independent press
  Links
• 2025-12-04
  Panel discussion at FU Berlin
  Communication scientist
  Expert discussion on "Gaza and the German Media: Insights and Prospects" at the Institute of Media and Communication Studies at Freie Universität Berlin
  Links Review Video
• 2025-12-02
  Journalistik - Journal for Journalism Research
  Media critic and communication scientist
  Interview mit der wissenschaftlichen Autorin Mandy Tröger für ihre Analyse über die Auswirkungen des politischen Instruments der Antisemitismus-Resolutionen auf die freie und unabhängige Presse und den deutschen Journalismus
  Links
• 2025-11-26
  3. CIVIS Media Dialogue
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion with editor in chief of public broadcaster ARD Oliver Köhr and others on the topic of "Lack of confidence– and the consequences? The media's handling of the Middle East conflict"
  Links Video Photo
• 2025-11-07
  Specialist lecture at FU Berlin
  Communication scientist
  Media frame analysis of German media coverage on the Middle East and its foundational editorial conditions, in particular public broadcasting, as well as its effects on social discourse
  Video
• 2025-09-05
  Think tank media
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Training of political educators on Palestine and Israel, the German discourse on the Middle East as well as media responsibility and pedagogical solutions for fact-based work in political education
• 2025-08-23
  Interview Deutschlandfunk
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Links Review
• Position paper "THE OVERLOOKED WORLD"
  Scientific co-signer
  Co-signing.of academic position paper "THE OVERLOOKED WORLD" together with 1,300 scientists calling for appropriate media coverage of the Global South
  Links Review
• 2025-07-23
  Interview WDR 5
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview about the current change in German media on the Middle East, the lack of reference to international law, the instrumentalisation of images and an overdue exit back to serious journalism
  Links
• 2025-07-23
  Interview on German public broadcaster Bayern 2
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview about the scandal of media formats such as ARD Sommerinterview, about strategic communication and land grabbing by right-wing extremism and the responsibility of the media for protection concepts against concerted attacks against journalists
  Links
• 2025-07-22
  Expert discussion Goethe-University Frankfurt
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Academic panel discussion on the topic "Developments in the Middle East: What Do They Have to Do with Us?" - on regulated and prevented spaces for discourse in academia, the media and civil society on the topic of Palestine and Israel as well as ways out into a free, deliberative, democratic debate on the basis of international humanitarian law
  Links
• 2025-07-08
  Lexture at College for Film and Television
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Lecture and panel discussion on "Lost media trust, endangered democracy?" at HFF - College for Film and Television Munich
• 2025-07-07
  Lexture at Ludwig Maximilians University
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Lecture and panel discussion on German media coverage on Palestine and Israel at the IfKW - Institute for Communication Science and Media Reserach at Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich
• 2025-06-23
  studio M - WDR MONITOR
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Discussion in the 50th episode of the political magazine about "Gaza and the Media: Is journalism failing?"
  Links Video Photo
• 2025-06-21
  Interview on German public broadcaster RBB
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview about German reporting on the Middle East, patterns of journalistic malpractice, denial of responsibility in public broadcasting media and effects on media trust and democracy
  Links
• 2025-06-18
  Advanced training at Cologne Journalism School
  Workshop facilitator
  Facilitator of a workshop on "Social Diversity in Journalistic Practice" at Cologne School of Journalism for two journalistic cohorts, with the organization "Media Service Integration"
  Links Review
• 2025-06-13
  Annual Conference Network Journalistic Research 2025
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion on the topic "German media and the Middle East: How to create and ensure trusthworty journalism?"
  Links Review Video Photo
• 2025-05-28
  Talk at re:publica 2025
  Speaker on German media coverage of the Middle East
  Analysis on the topic "Lost media trust, endangered democracy? Analysis, Ways Out and Future of German Media Reporting on the Middle East" at conference re:publica 205
  Links Video Photo
• 2025-05-28
  WDR MONITOR
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Panel discussion "MONITOR Forum: Social Media Rules the World - Do We Need a Public Service Platform?" as part of the re:publica 2025 conference
  Links Video Photo
• 2025-05-28
  ORF panel talk
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Media critique at broadcaster ORF / FM4 on German media coverage of the Middle East, journalistic malpractice, lost media trust and constructive solutions
  Links
• 2025-05-11
  Utopia Talks in Thalia Theater
  Media critic and communication scientist
  Guest at talk series "Utopia Talks" on past, present and future developments in journalism and the media
  Links
• 2025-05-09
  Cologne Forum for Journalism Critique
  Media critic and communication scientist
  Panel discussion on the topic "They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats“ – Are media defenceless against populists?"
  Links

Completed projects (excerpt)

• Roman-Brodmann-Kolloquium 2025
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion on the topic "Stage or media coverage: Blackout or power of the media"
  https://www.medienpolitik.eu/einladung-zum-roman-brodmann-preis-und-kolloquium-2025/
• Interview on German public broadcaster Bremen Zwei
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview on German media coverage on the Middle East, journalistic self-censorship, lost trust in media and constructive solutions
  https://www.instagram.com/p/DGc05Q_MXQS/
• Journalism talk Middle East
  Media expert and communication scientist on the topic of the Middle East
  Expert lecture to journalists on the challenges of journalistic reporting on the Middle East and constructive solutions
  https://www.instagram.com/p/DFKlSYAMq7I/
• Grimme Online Award 2024
  Nominee for the award category "information" of Grimme-prize for journalistic quality on the Internet and 3rd place at the audience awards
  Science-based media criticism on German media coverage, selected as one of 27 nominees from ⁓1.000 submissions for Germany`s most important award for digital journalism
  https://www.grimme-online-award.de/2024/nominierte/alle-nominierten#a5522
  Links Review Video Photo
• Symposium "October 7 and its effects"
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Expert dialogue on German media coverage of the Middle East at an interdisciplinary event, funded by the State Institute for Political Education BW
  https://www.lpb-bw.de/einzelansicht-aktuell/der-7-oktober-und-seine-folgen-15-10-2024
• Interview on German public broadcaster BR2
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview about adequate media coverage of right-wing extremist parties and actors by German journalism
  https://www.br.de/radio/live/bayern2/programm/2024-09-20/3573402/
• SWR Future Days
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Expert talk and panel discussion on the topic of "Migration and Media", with ARD Chair Kai Gniffke and researcher Karim Fereidooni
  https://www.swr.de/unternehmen/zukunftstage-migration-und-medien-in-ludwigshafen-2024-100.html
  Links Review Video Photo
• Annual Conference Network Journalistic Research 2024
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion on the topic of "How to report in a balanced way from Israel and Gaza?", with Hanna Resch (journalist and reporter at ARD Studio Tel Aviv) und Holger Stark (deputy editor-in-chief at ZEIT), hosted by journalist Pinar Atalay
  https://nr24.sched.com/event/1e4TA/wie-kann-man-ausgewogen-aus-israel-und-gaza-berichten?iframe=no
• 30th anniversary of FSF
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion on the topic of "AI, Media and Future-Oriented Youth Media Protection" at the 30th anniversary of the FSF - Voluntary Self-Control Television, Germany`s oldest self-regulatory body for digital image carriers
  https://fsf.de/veranstaltungen/2024-30-jahre-fsf/
• quoted - media podcast
  Host of podcast "quoted", with co-host Nils Minkmar
  Scientific host of podcast on media, the most recent media coverage and media discourses. New episodes of this new podcast by CIVIS media foundation and Süddeutsche Zeitung are published biweekly on Thursday. Awarded with "Bert-Donnepp-Price 2024 - German Price for Media Critique"
  https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UTAwB3AeTnALpcGeJ6S86
  Links Review Video Photo
• WDR Europaforum 2024
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion with program director of public broadcaster WDR Jörg Schönenborn and others on the topic of "Under pressure – how does the media assert itself against populism, extremism and nationalism?"
  https://registration.europa-forum.wdr.de/forum-2024/programm/
  Links Review Video Photo
• Panel discussion at Cologne University
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Cologne on German media coverage of Israel and Palestine, their peculiarities in international comparison, historical responsibility and effects in a plural society, hosted by Professor Sabine Damir-Geilsdorf
  https://orient.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/konferenzen-vortraege/2024/podiumsgespraech-palaestinensische-gebiete
• Interview on German public broadcaster WDR COSMO
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview on relevance and need of professional media journalism and critique within pluralistic societies
• Bert Donnepp Prize 2024
  Laureate
  Awarded with the "Bert Donnepp Prize - German Prize for Media Journalism" for her role as host of quoted - the media podcast
  https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/96430/zaboura_und_minkmar_erhalten_den_bertdonnepppreis/
  Links Review Video Photo
• 1. CIVIS Media Dialogue
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Panel discussion with editor in chief of public broadcaster ZDF Bettina Schausten and others on the topic of "Multiplicity of perspectives in German public broadcasting"
  https://www.civismedia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programm_Mediendialog_Januar_2024_.pdf
  Links Review Video Photo
• Interview on Deutschlandfunk
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview on the topics of German public debate, journalism and new public spheres, at German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk
  https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/debattenjahr-es-braucht-ein-format-mit-wuerde-um-differenzen-auszudiskutieren-dlf-a68df072-100.html
• DUDEN book "Diversity"
  Author
  Book chapter on the topic of "Diversity in media" in Germany's renowned publishing house DUDEN
  https://shop.duden.de/Vielfalt/9783411756018
  Links Review Photo
• Cologne Futures 2023
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence in media and journalism
  https://medienpolitik.eu/einladung-zu-den-cologne-futures-2023/
  Links Review Video Photo
• Expert Interview on WDR
  Communication expert and media critic
  Interview with public broadcaster WDR COSMO on German media coverage regarding the Middle East
  Review Video Photo
• Interview on Deutschlandfunk
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Interview on the topic of "Climate, wars, economic crisis: Thematic and temporal focus of media?" on German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk
  https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/klima-kriege-wirtschaftskrise-was-steht-wann-im-fokus-der-medien-dlf-420b1efb-100.html
• 54. Römerberggespräche
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Moderated discussion between Max Czollek and Nadia Zaboura on the topic of "Between panic and reconciliation theater: How to (medially) deal with German far right/extremist party AfD?" at public debate format 54. Römerberggespräche "Receive the signals! On the resistable rise of right-wing extremism"
  https://roemerberggespraeche-ffm.de/54-roemerberggespraeche-hoert-die-signale-vom-aufhaltsamen-aufstieg-des-rechtsextremismus/
  Links Review Video Photo
• Interview on Deutschlandfunk
  Communication scientist and media critic
  Interview about German public debate and journalism on the topic of the Middle East
  https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/elend-in-gaza-wut-auf-deutschen-strassen-wie-koennen-wir-berichten-dlf-799bbd5d-100.html
• Expert interview with Grimme-Institut
  Communication expert and juror German Radio Award
  Interview on the 50th anniversary of Grimme-Institute on the topic of the present and future of radio within democratic societies (pages 62 to 65)
  https://www.grimme-institut.de/fileadmin/Grimme_Nutzer_Dateien/Institut/Dokumente/50-Jahre-GI_Festschrift.pdf
• Trainer on media journalism
  Training of journalist at a Grimme seminar on media journalism
  https://chaos.social/@nadia_z/111143604169703719
  Links Photo
• Expert interview in NDR
  Communication expert and media critic
  Interview with public broadcaster NDRinfo on media and migration
  https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/Medien-Kritikerin-Gefluechtete-werden-zu-Objekten-degradiert,audio1473514.html
  Links Review Photo
• Expert interview on Bayern 2
  Communication expert and media critic
  Interview with public broadcaster Bayern 2 on media and migration
  https://www.br.de/radio/bayern2/sendungen/zuendfunk/spiegel-cover-fluechtlingstreck-kritik-100.html
• Author
  Author of essay "100 years of radio."
  Essay on radio as mass media and its future.
  https://www.deutschlandradio.de/100-jahre-radio-essay-nadia-zaboura-100.html
• Interview on Deutschlandfunk
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Interview on the topics of German public debate, journalism and new public spheres, at German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk
  https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/themen-der-woche-24-12-2022-rueckblick-auf-die-debatten-2022-mit-nadia-zaboura-dlf-06a5eed2-100.html
  Links
• Live interview about Iran on WDR Cosmo
  Media expert and communication scientist
  Insta live talk on the topic "Too late, too little, too cautious? How German media cover protests in Iran"
  https://twitter.com/nadia_z/status/1578828767564136449
  Review Video Photo
• Future talks on Public Service Media
  Keynote speaker
  Keynote on mission, challenges and potentials of German Public Service Media
  https://twitter.com/nadia_z/status/1572838861356630022?s=20&t=MrRfCDEDQXeHEyImQZpHBA
• Interview
  Interview radioeins
  Talk with Florian Schröder for "Wach & wichtig" on German Radio Award (starting minute 14:37).
  https://rbbmediapmdp-a.akamaihd.net/content/85/12/85123dd4-5eb2-4fd2-a252-e2f1c1e8e749/ed756760-fbae-4d77-a230-d7cf6e1b65b4_bf2d9598-a625-45a2-ac44-ba571df47f19.mp3
• Interview
  Interview Radioszene
  Insights into work and responsibility as head of the jury of German Radio Award 2022
  https://www.radioszene.de/166900/nadia-zaboura-deutscher-radiopreis-2022.html
• Conference "eQualification 2022" by BMBF
  Expert moderator
  Moderation at conference "eQualification 2022 - Connection work and learning digitally" by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  https://equalification.de/
  Links Review Video Photo
• CIVIS Media Conference
  Expert moderator
  Moderation of a media conference on journalism and transforming media ecosystems and public spheres by social media and platform dynamics
  https://www.civismedia.eu/aktuelles/medienkonferenz-2022
  Links Review Video Photo
• CIVIS Media Conference 2021
  Panelist
  Panelist for expert discussion on "quality in media and journalism"
  https://www.civismedia.eu/fileadmin/images/Medienstiftung/Presse/210608_programm_medienkonferenz2021.pdf
  Links Review Photo
• Conference "Quality and diversity in local democracy"
  Moderator
  Expert moderator and facilitator of conference "Quality and diversity in local democracy" with former German Federal President Joachim Gauck, on behalf of vhw association in joint cooperation with German Association of Cities and German Association of Towns and Municipalities
  https://www.vhw.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Termine/PDF/Flyer_Digital-Kongress_Lokale_Demokratie_vhw.pdf
  Links Review Video Photo
• Publication "medial voices"
  Author of scientific foreword
  Foreword for scientific publication for project "medial voices" at Grimme research center
  https://www.mediale-stimmen.de
• Expert interview W&V
  Interview as expert on radio, media trends, diversity and digitalisation
  Expert interview with leading industry magazine W&V covering the future of radio, podcasts as engines of signification, non-linear competitors, diversity and the biggest challenges for decision-makers in media
  https://www.wuv.de/wuvplus/ein_weiter_so_kann_sich_niemand_mehr_leisten
  Review Photo
• Foresight Conference by BMBF
  Expert moderator
  Bilingual moderation of foresight conference, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research
  https://www.vorausschau.de/
• Social Community Day 2020
  Expert
  Expert discussion on media responsibility, populism and far-right communication strategies
  https://www.goa-talks.de/referenten-2020/
  Links Review Photo
• Workshop "medial voices"
  Invitation as scientist
  Scientific expertise for workshop by project "medial voices" at Grimme research center
  https://www.mediale-stimmen.de
• Expert interview W&V
  Interview as expert on media, radio and digitalisation
  Expert interview with leading industry magazine W&V covering the future of radio & audio, new technologies & player and the biggest challenges for decision-makers in media
  https://www.wuv.de/wuvplus/stimme_tritt_an_die_stelle_von_schrift
• European Commission
  EU evaluator for "Information and Communication Technologies" for Horizon 2020 (EU research framework program)
  Appointed evaluator for a call within funding column "Information and Communication Technologies"
  http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/what-horizon-2020
• Podcast Interview
  Interview on digital communication and social networks, hate speech and democracy, diversity in journalism and science communication as well as research programs within the EU
  https://mensch-frau-nora.de/nadia-zaboura-kein-mensch-lebt-rein-im-internet/
• German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
  Appointed appraiser
  Appraiser analyzing and selecting outstanding, future-proof projects by networks of science, industry and civil society (total budget of € 200 million)
  https://www.bmbf.de/en/index.html
• Berlin Science Week
  Moderator
  Moderation of expert panel discussion on "Digital ethics: Oppressed by algorithms?". By Fraunhofer, Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany, Science in Dialogue (WiD) and Elsevier
  https://www.wissenschaft-im-dialog.de/projekte/science-people/
  Review Photo
• Symposium of State Center of Political Education NRW
  Moderator
  Expert moderation of symposium "Talking to each other, arguing and opposing - dealing with right-wing extremism, right-wing populism and racism in the digital age".
  https://www.mbr-duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/content/news/2018/Einladung-Fachtagung-05.07.2018.pdf
  Review Photo
• 25next - Future Day of German Children and Youth Foundation at Bellevue Castle
  Moderator
  Moderation of future event of German Children and Youth Foundation (DKJS), e.g. featuring Elke Büdenbender (patroness and wife to the German Federal President) and five futurologists
  https://www.dkjs.de/aktuell/meldung/news/startschuss-fuer-25next/
  Links Review Video Photo
• Expert book "The Remapping of Health Industries"
  Author of expert contribution
  Expert contribution on "Synergies between health and creative industries" (publishing house: Springer Gabler, publisher: , Herausgeber: Matusiewicz, Muhrer-Schwaiger)
  http://www.springer.com/de/book/9783658125189
• Book "How I came to be what I am today, and what we shall be once: Forays through the garden of philosophy"
  Author of preface for a publication on philosophy by Breitenbach & Köbler, published by Bastei Lübbe
  http://www.amazon.de/Wie-wurde-einmal-sein-werden/dp/3785725574/
• Radio show DRadio Wissen
  Expert interview partner at DRadio - German public radio broadcaster
  Topic: "Loss of trust" - on the recent crisis in journalism
  http://dradiowissen.de/beitrag/was-mit-medien-luegenpresse
  Links Photo
• SALON D#2 | „Real - Digital“
  Host of evening event on digitization
  Host of SALON D#2 | „Real - Digital“ as part of IMM Cologne
  http://www.dreiform.de/category/salon-d/
  Review Video Photo
• Workshop by ifa - Institute for International Cultural Relations
  Workshop participant
  Consultancy for ifa on "Digitisation in Foreign Cultural and Educational Policy", Berlin
  http://www.ifa.de/en.html
  Links Photo
• International symposium of ZKM "Culture 4.0 – Now Loading? Towards a digital future of foreign cultural and educational policy“
  Keynote speaker
  Keynote on "DIGITAL - CULTURE - POLITICS. New paths in cultural mediation and education"
  http://zkm.de/event/2014/12/kultur-40-now-loading
  Links Review Video Photo
• Magazine interview
  Interview on mirror neurons and their effect on leadership and management skills
  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=549079205202965&set=a.388071461303741.1073741825.100003026716998&type=1
• Conference "At nightfall"
  by the German Federal Cultural Foundation
  Talk about own photography project "enscape", its scientific foundation (transparency, mass, surveillance at Sennett and Baudrillard) and societal implications
  With fellow artist Mario Sixtus
  http://www.kulturstiftung-des-bundes.de/cms/de/sparten/wort_und_wissen/einbruch_der_dunkelheit.html
  Video Photo
• Scientific symposium
  "Social cognition of narration"
  Talk "New Narratives, Science & ZEE"
  Talk about the scientific foundations of own art project "ZEE" at Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg. By Gaspar Nemes
  http://www.h-w-k.de/
• 2011-05-14
  Scientific conference
  “2nd Neurotherapy Symposium”
  Moderator of a scientific symposium and own talk at University Hospital Zürich
  Bilingual expert moderation and talk about mirror neurons and empathy in front of 500 attendees. By Marietta Chatzigeorgiou
  Links Review Video Photo
• Conference "bodybits", held by public broadcaster ZDF
  Moderator of film talk "Alice 5.0" at the HKW, Berlin
  Expert moderation of film talk "Alice 5.0" inside the auditorium in front of 600 guests
  http://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/2011/bodybits_2011/veranstaltungen_53789/AlleVeranstaltungen.php
  Links
• Radio interviews with broadcasting station you.fm
  Expert interviews
  Interviews regarding scientific foundations of everyday phenomena
• abgeschlossen
  Blog "The empathic brain"
  Reflections and analysis on most recent brain research and communication
  Links Photo
• 2009-07-01
  Scientific publication
  "The empathic brain"
  Author
  Author of a scientific monograph on mirror neurons and intersubjectivity at VS / Springer Verlag
  Links Review
• 2006
  Master of Arts
  M.A. degree summa cum laude, obtained at the University of Essen
  Master thesis: "Monkey See, Monkey Do. Or: Do mirror neurons hold relevance for the notion of communicative intersubjectivity?"
• 2006-06-28
  Scientific publication
  "Actor brain"
  Co-publisher and -author
  Co-publisher and -author of a scientific anthology at VS / Springer Verlag. With Professor Dr. Jo Reichertz
  Links Review