Alex Maxia
Founder of Lost in a Cup & Freelance Journalist in Scandinavia
Bio
Born in London (UK), grew up in Cagliari, on the island of Sardinia (Italy), lived in Uppsala, just north of Stockholm (Sweden) for 5 years. He now lives in Gothenburg since 2021, Sweden’s second largest city, which is equally distant to the three Scandinavian capitals: Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen.
Has been passionate about writing and producing media since an early age starting writing as a kid for school magazines to then move into student media during university years in Manchester, Tromso, Uppsala and Gothenburg. He founded Lost in a Cup as an exchange student’s blog in 2013 to talk about cultural differences between Sweden, UK and Italy. The concept then took a new life in 2017 where the website became ‘an online cultural café’ mixing coffee selling, writing and hosting social / cultural events.
Today Alex works full-time as a journalist as Nordic correspondent for ANSA, the main Italian news agency and freelancing for The Times and BBC News. Alex also works regularly for Sveriges Radio, Swedish public service radio and co-founded the non-profit association Gothenburg Media Hub.
The journalistic work is why the website has not been very active lately but it might be so again soon, stayed tuned!
Interests
- People: As reflected by my studies in humanities and social sciences, my main interest is people and cultural differences and similarities.
- Communication: As a kid my dream was to work in journalism, it only took 30 years but got there eventually. I can speak a few languages and would like to learn more, at least at a basic level in order to understand and communicate.
- Coffee: It is more of a passion then an interest, but I love the taste of it, the energy it gives and the rituals associated with its consumption; from the coffee shop, to Swedish Fika in a traditional konditori, the automatic machine or even better: on the patio of an Italian bar. This underlying coffee theme of this website is testimony to this passion and for a few years I used to sell Italian coffee online here.
- Travel: I enjoy travelling and discovering new places that could be going to a different continent, walking home taking a different street or venturing into a part of town I’ve never been to before (even in unheard of places such as ‘Chrolotn-cum-hardy’).
Portfolio
Audio
Portfolio at Sveriges Radio – Swedish public service radio. I mainly work for Radio Sweden, the English language section of the news and occasionally Ekot, the main newsteam in Swedish (2022 – present).
BBC World Service – Newsday – Norway’s controversial Santa advert
Times Radio – Corona Update from Sweden – 23rd December 2021.
The Mark Patterson’s Show, BBC Radio Ulster. Live Interview on Norwegian’s ‘Gay Santa advert’ – 22nd November 2021.
BBC World Service – The Global News Podcast – 7th September 2021. New regulations on e-scooters in Oslo .
P3 Dokumnetär – Sveriges Radio. ‘Kryssningskatastrofen och “Kapten Ynkrygg” ‘ – radio documentary on the sinking of the cruise-liner Costa Concordia and the media storm that followed. (2021)
BBC World Service, The Global News Podcast – 22nd July 2021. Reporting from Oslo on the commemorations of the 22nd of July terror attacks.
P3 Dokumentär – Sveriges Radio. ‘Kriget mot Sicilianska Maffian’ – radio documentary on the war against Sicilian mafia (2021).
Människor och Tro (religion and society) on P1 – Sveriges Radio. Reportage from Rome on ‘ Women’s role in the Catholic Church’ (2021).
P3 Nyheter – Sveriges Radio. Reporting from Rome on the return of tourism after the change in covid restrictions (2021).
Musikguiden i P3 – Sveriges Radio. Reporting from Rome on the victory of Italian rock band Måneskin at Eurovision (2021).
Student Radio
Written
Article portfolio for The Independent for whom I wrote for on a freelance basis – 2021.
Cross-border investigation on rubber supply chains and the claimed sustainability vs the reality we found. Article for Correctiv in English and in German.
Gay Santa ad highlights big shift in Norwegian society. BBC News – December 2021.
Sweden on verge of getting first ever female prime minister. The Independent – November 2021.
Swedish police identify suspect in Gothenburg explosion inquiry. The Independent – September 2021.
The climate crisis election: Norway goes to the polls and environmental concerns will be key to the result. The Independent – September 2021.
10 Things that superise Italians when they move to Sweden. The Local, September 2021.
The Cashless Society – Sweden.se (2020)
The Mentorship scheme helping foreigners navigate life in Sweden. The Local, 8th January 2021.
Student Magazines (Aktuellt, Tidningen Ergo, Holmiensis, Nya Gammal Phosphorus, The Mancunion)
Video
BBC News – Live reporting for BBC News (UK and World) from Gothenburg on the rise in violence of criminal gangs in Sweden (October 2023).
BBC Worklife – Friluftsliv. Fixer for the filming of Maddy Savage’s report on ‘outdoor living’ in Sweden.
Since a very young age has been writing for student media, started a blog whilst on exchange semester in Sweden (early 2013) and still writes to date.
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