Come on America

”It is not a job – it is a lifestyle” – Jesper Steinmetz

When I walked into the huge bright room in “Kulturøen” in Middelfart I had certain expectations those kinds of expectations you have when it is 7:30 pm Monday evening and you are going to a 2.5 hour lecture, about the American election, where the average age is over 50. The chairman from the Danish American Canadian Friendship Association, which represented the lecture in cooperation with Middelfart Sparekasse presented the acknowledged Danish correspondent from TV2, Jesper Steinmetz, who has been in America for two years. When Steinmetz began talking the audience immediately leaned back in their seats and started listening.

America has always fascinated Jesper Steinmetz and he left everything in Denmark so he could start as TV2 new correspondent in America. Steinmetz begins talking about his life in America. He swift between talking and short video clips which keeps the listeners attention and makes a great balance in the lecture.  Steinmetz has now been half of the time as his contract allows it and has a mission to report from every state in America, so far he has almost reported from the half. He covers everything from the election to a factory in a small town. His work can be very unpredictable and it can therefore be hard to care for his private life, he explains and says:

“It is not a job – it is a lifestyle”

Jesper Steinmetz does not hide his excitement and love for America and hopes his contract is being extended, but he is not interested in settle permanent. Even though he is fascinated by the country he can see theirs flaw, which he often reports about.  

There is no doubt that Jesper Steinmetz is an experienced journalist. When the question round began after the break he could wiggle around the question without the audience noticing if he had not made us aware of it. He was honest and aware of his “journalist-tricks” and often joked with it, which made him seems sympathetic and often funny. In the 2.5 hours lecture Jesper Steinmetz obtained ours attention by his humour, his honesty and the balance in the lecture. At the end of the lecture Jesper Steinmetz had put my low expectations to shame and I walked out with a feeling of excitement over my new knowledge.

- Astrid Astrupgaard