Biography Gregory Paulger

Director, Directorate-General “Information Society and Media”, Directorate A “Audiovisual, Media, Internet”

Born in Hong Kong in 1950, Mr Paulger is an established official of the European Commission. He took up his current post on 1st January 2005. From June 2003 to December 2004 he was Director in Directorate-General “Education and Culture”, Directorate C “Culture, Audiovisual Policy and Sport” with responsibility for a Directorate of approximately 100 staff, with a budget of about 150 million Euros a year, and a range of legal instruments. Before that he held several posts in the European Commission varying from Head of Unit Audiovisual Policy to Head of Cabinet to Mrs. Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission for Education and Culture.

Prior to joining the Commission in September 1983 Mr Paulger held from various positions (sales, marketing, finance) in ELESA Paris, a private firm specialised in providing vocational training services and audiovisual learning material. Courses in financial management at the “Institut français de gestion”. Final position: “Directeur adjoint”. He has a Master of Arts, with distinction, in History from King’s College, London University and a Bachelor of Arts, Honours in History from London University.

Summary Keynote
A European approach to media literacy in the digital environment - The European Commission communication on media literacy.

The media are an accessible tool for European citizens to better understand the societies in which they live and participate in the democratic life. The audiovisual production sector is an essential instrument of expression of our cultural and political values and it is a vector for European citizenship and culture. The Commission Communication on media literacy adds a further building block to European audiovisual policy. In particular, it links to the provisions of the AVMS Directive and the MEDIA 2007 programme. The Commission intends to promote the development and exchange of good practices on media literacy. It will also encourage research into criteria for assessing media literacy.