Lie Detectors welcomes a new Managing Director

Brussels – 2 October 2024 – Lie Detectors is delighted to announce that Christian Spahr has joined as their new Managing Director. Through this appointment, Lie Detectors is increasing its operational and leadership capacity with a new colleague who boasts exceptional experience in managing international organisations and diverse teams.

“We look forward enormously to working with Christian and to tapping his considerable talents in management, planning and strategising,” said Lie Detectors Founder and CEO Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck. “Christian joins us at a key juncture as Europe addresses rapidly developing educational needs in the context of digital citizenship and democratic resilience. We are confident that his highly-relevant expertise will contribute tremendously to the fulfilment of Lie Detectors mission at this critical time.”

Christian brings to his role experience as Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions, a pan-European platform of 130 regional governments; as well as previous experience as a print and broadcast journalist; as former head of a media development cooperation programme; and as a spokesperson for the EU Commission.

“We need to strengthen democratic, open societies. Genuine dialogue is only possible through trust. Young people in particular must be able to recognise disinformation. I am very much looking forward to working with Juliane to further develop her highly successful concept of media education by journalists,” he said.

Independent media literacy organisation Lie Detectors is currently implementing a strategic plan with core organisational funding by the Wyss Foundation. As part of this, it is rolling out teacher-training seminars in multiple languages, working in multiplier partnerships and extending its offering across the EU.