Come on America!

7 may, 2012.

               

Usually we see him in television on Tv2. We see him in front of the White House. We see him cover essential events - especially in America. But tonight - Monday evening, Jesper Steinmetz, USA- correspondent from Tv2 has traveled all the way to Kulturøen Middelfart, to tell about his life as correspondent in America and about the election.  Canadisk Amerikansk Friendship Association has planned the event in collaboration with Middelfart Sparrekasse.

  Jesper Steinmetz is still wearing suit and tie as in television; the only different is the surroundings. Kulturøen Middelfart has a beautiful view over the Little Belt, and Jesper Steinmetz remark that he hopes the audience will focus on him and not the beautiful view. People are laughing and the sentiment is nice. Almost all the seats are taken, and excitement fills the air.   

  “My contract is on four years, but I fasten up on the fact that it says there is possibility to elongation,” tells Jesper Steinmetz and makes his gratification of his job clear. Also he makes clear that his job and his personal life cannot be spitted up. It’s a lifestyle.

  First he starts to tell about a typical day at work. He always carries along his two cellphones; one American and one Danish. Furthermore he carries along a Tv2-logo to a microphone and some makeup. He says that without makeup he would look like a pale, sweaty man on television. 

  Jesper talked for about an hour. His most important goal was to tell the ‘bad’ side of America and visit all the states. In his talk his showed a lot of videos from Television news transmissions and used his humorous sense. After the lecture there was a break where coffee, tea and carrot cake was served – and it was very delicious.

  After the break it was question time, and all the ’inquisitive Tom’s’ could ask. People were very interested, and about 22 pm the arrangement ended.

Sofie

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

Come on America!

”Come on America!”

Yesterday I went to a lecture in Middelfart. It was given on “Kulturøen” by Jesper Steinmetz (b. 1967), who is the only American news correspondent for TV2. The lecture was named “Come on America” – the same name as his book.
Before the lecture I expected to learn about the American president election, but it only filled a little part. The lecture was about Jesper Steinmetz (JS) as a Dane versus his job as an American correspondent.

Since JS visited America, when he was 19 years old, he has been absolutely fascinated by the country. He had never thought that he was going to live in Washington working all over the world. Since he moved over the seas for two years ago, he also got to know America’s drawbacks, so yesterday – his 45^th birthday – he enjoyed to come back to Denmark and its luxuries toilets, he said with a smile. Also he adds that he won’t stay in America for the rest of his days, but instead he plans to go back to Denmark at the time he stops being news correspondent for TV2.  

JS characterized America as if it lags way behind countries as Denmark. Their democracy and their systems do not work very well. Besides this the American people were born to be on TV, he said. He substantiated this by saying, that they have no limits when it comes to their private life and the public. I a way they have influenced JS who was very outgoing and open as well.  

For the moment JS followed and analyzed the presidential election in the USA, and personally he hoped for Obama to win – but he believed in Mitt Romney’s victory.
Besides the election he has worked with themes as poverty, the ash cloud on Iceland, Lars Løkke’s first visit in the White House and illegal immigrants.

This time JS was only going to stay in Denmark for a short time, so I am very grateful to my English-teacher, because she made me go to such an arrangement. 

Anna Kyhn, 2.D

Jesper Steinmetz on "Kulturøen"

Come on America

The modern new building by the beautiful sea gives the promise of pure entertainment. Walking through the halls the guests and I are met by the classy library, the cinema, and the fancy restaurant. We get to the auditorium and I am overwhelmed by the beautiful view of the water and the old bridge. After having settled into our seats the fit and well-dressed journalist steps on to the stage.

Jesper Steinmetz is right at home on the and clearly enjoys being the centre of attention. Apparently he loves it so much that he has chosen to spend his forty-fifth birthday talking to us. He starts off by presenting a day in his life. It characterised by multitasking, stress, and make-up. The journalist underlines that he always has four things with him; his US phone, his Danish phone, make-up, and the TV2 microphone cover. He needs this so he can be prepared and get reached at all time.

The first hour of the lecture is donated to the birthday boy only. Then after a break with traditional American carrot cake and a nice cup of tea I return to my seat. I look around at the guests. It is an odd mix of people; tired and interested young adults and Danish-American seniors. When talking about my sad impression of Americans and their lack of knowledge I lower my voice in fear of offending someone.

The rest of the evening is in the name of questions. Everyone is jumping out of their seats in order to have their questions answered. Finally we get a real and honest sense of how Jesper Steinmetz sees America and its people. “I try to advocate common sense.” a statement that is only one of the critical answers the US-correspondent. Even though Steinmetz views America with very judging eyes I still get a feeling that he loves it. He admires the people’s ability to chat and perform. Having the possibility of buying any service you want is something he certainly will miss ones he returns to Denmark for good.

The evening end with a smile and a few autographs.

Tanja 

Come on America!

Lecture with Jesper Steinmetz 07.05.12 

It’a Monday evening and I sit in Middelfart with my English class and a lot of other people.  We are ready to welcome Jesper Steinmetz, a journalist from the Danish channel TV2. All people are excited to hear, what Jesper is going to tell us about how it is to be in America and the political election campaign which soon will take place. Even though it is Jespers birthday today, he still wants to make a lecture for us. Hi begins by commenting the beautiful view we have next to us; the view of the two bridges over the Little Belt, the sea and the sunset.  Afterwards he begins to talk about how it is to come to America, and how his life is as an American reporter from TV2. 

Jesper lives in Washington, and he thinks, that settle in America is very different from just being a tourist in America. As a reporter he is using more time of thinking which stories he has to void, than which stories he want to tell Denmark. – There is always something to tell and always something interesting. Jespers job is not just a job for him, it is his lifestyle. He cannot make plans in his life, because he has to be disposal all the time. He mentions that he once was on a holiday with his family in Africa when his boss called him and said that he had to come to New York immediately, because Obama’s health reform had to be presented. It would look very bad, if TV2 could not show the event, and DR1 their competitors could. Then he was standing on a roof, because he could not be in New York for the 19 News, and the health reform had to be presented in the 19 news. 

He tells us about the American society and the American people, one of the main themes is the American identity, “the state shall not interfere in my life it is my own business”. - He compares this identity with the Danish identity. In Denmark we are used to get help from the state, if we are in trouble. The American people are doing accurate what they want to do with their own lives. He mentions that the American people are spontaneous, enthusiastic and kind, and he loves it! But even though he likes them, he looks at their society as very ineffective. No one in America wants to make the unpopular decisions about reductions, and he thinks that America is going to have bigger differences between poor and rich people in the future. They are behind Europe in developing their country. 

He talks about the American dream. “It is easier to come from the bottom of the society, and end up being something big in Denmark than in America”. – This statement really contradicts the understanding of ‘the American dream’, as we look at the idea in Europe. But that is what he means. 

Jesper continues by telling about the presidential election this year. He tells that Obama is very unpopular in many places in USA because of his many empty promises. The society want results, because they are in a big debt and they got many unemployed people. Jesper continues by showing a clip from a place few kilometres out of Las Vegas, where 85% of the people are living under the poverty limit, which is a good example of the bad situation in America.  He thinks when Obama was chosen as president it was a reaction of the bad work that Georg W Bush made, and if a republican president will be chosen this time the same reaction will come.  

Even though Jesper loves his job; he cannot imagine himself living there for the rest of his life. He ends the lecture by saying: “Actually I have become more impressed by Denmark after moving to USA”. With this statement people are clapping their hands and leaving the room with a smile on their lips. 

- Written by Sara Vest, 2.d. 

"Come On America!"

Reporting live from a lecture by Jesper Steinmetz

It’s Monday evening. I’m sitting in the train towards Middelfart. It’s been a long day but I’m looking forward to hearing what Jesper Steinmetz has to say about coming to America.

I’m standing outside the building where the lecture is taking place in just about 15 minutes – “Middelfart KulturØ”.

As I’m walking up the long stairway, with white steps, I feel my stomach filling up with more and more excitement.

Entering the door to the room wherein the lecture is being held, I feel overwhelmed by the large windows facing the Little Belt. The sun is shining beautifully and is just about to set.

In just a few minutes the clock will be exactly 7.30 pm and the lecture will begin.

Before stepping on to the platform Jesper Steinmetz quickly spits out his chewing gum and places it in an ashtray.

As he introduces himself he uses an inch of irony, when referring to an article that once wrote, that Jesper Steinmetz lived in America when he was 19 – in 1886 (!) Today is his 45^th birthday, and he seems happy to spend it here with us, in Middelfart.

Jesper has travelled to America many times, but he has only lived there for two years (and once when he was 19). His contract as a correspondent for TV2 runs out when four years have past. He loves his job, and puts a great deal of pride into portraying America in ways people wouldn’t expect – giving the Danes the small story, instead of always portraying the big story.

To give us a glimpse of a regular day in his life he shows us a bit from a documentary made by “TV2/Nord”. A very hectic life, which isn’t as glamorous as one would think.

Then he pulls out three things he always carries around: a red hat, with TV2 written on it, for a microphone, some make-up, and two cell-phones; one he uses in Denmark and one he uses in America. Those things are linked to his work, a work which he carries with him wherever he may go.

When pulling out the make-up and smiling from ear to ear, he tells us an amusing anecdote:

I was once on my way to do a live interview for TV2. I was in quite a hurry, and I had to powder my forehead because of the lighting. Standing in the male lavatory in Mac Donald's, in front of the mirror, powdering my forehead I get the strangest look from an American man. Looking like he was waiting for me to pull out a dress.

The room is filled with laughter, and on every seat people are smiling. Jesper Steinmetz is a very charismatic man, and even though he speaks no formal language (he curses quite often!), he comes across as being a nice and very likeable man. When cursing, he blames his parents, with a smile, for the way he was raised.

Jesper constantly brings us behind the scenes by showing clips on a white screen. At one point he experiences some technical problems and I feel the crowd waiting in silence with full excitement. He quickly fixes the problems all while talking about random things and episodes in his life.

After an hour of listening with full attention there’s a 30 minute break with coffee and American carrot cake.

Second round is a Q&A.

At least one person from every row has a burning question, and as Jesper Steinmetz has said, it’s always the random questions which seem the most interesting.

“How are the American women?” “Tell us about the American election!” “What can we expect to read in your book?” “Do you have an American wife?”

Jesper politely answers all the questions.

The alternating switches between lecturing and showing clips from the documentary and from previous newscasts, creates an excitement over the feeling of being “close” to him. It leaves you with the feeling of being a part of his life and with a feeling that there’s a backside to America which you must explore. And this is the feeling I carry with me when heading back to the train station after the lecture.

-- Written by Naomi Altamirano, 2.d 

COME ON AMERICA!

Lecture with Jesper Steinmetz 07.05.12

It´s a few minutes past 7.30 p.m. and the exited listeners are sitting on the edge of their seats. They all stretch their necks to catch a glimpse of the Danish, well-known reporter, who has travelled all the way from America to “Kulturøen” in Middelfart on his forty-fifth birthday. The view from the room is absolutely fantastic; outside the big windows the two bridges over the Little Belt girdle the beautiful sunset. Jesper Steinmetz is introduced by the Danish American Canadian Friendship-association, and begins his lecture about his life as the American reporter from TV2. It is a country that he is very fascinated by, but today he also knows that it is a lot more nuanced that he thought.

Jesper lives in Washington during his time as a reporter, and he tells us that his job cannot be separated from his private life, it is a lifestyle. He thinks of his job as a possibility to tell stories about the posterior America and he makes it a point of honour to study different dialects and states. His ambition is to make different portraits of American lives, to visit private homes and especially to explode false myths about America. As a journalist he sees it as his duty to take a look at his stories from different angles. About that he shows us a clip from the demonstration against Obama in connection to the approaching election in America. Jesper interviews the demonstrators, but not all of them actually know what their arguments are, but they are many people assembled, and therefore they have a lot of influence. As he says, the Americans are born to be on TV, they have a lot on their mind, only hear themselves and love to get attention. Jesper tells us that the Americans´ motive power is “I will, and no one can control me!”

“It is a country without any quiet places or moments, everybody introduces you to their life for a moment, and you cannot get rid of it, it is fantastic!” Jesper says. “It is the whole spontaneity, the enthusiasm and the kindness”, he continues.  

But even though he is so impressed by America, he also sees the mistakes and imperfections. No one in America wants to make the unpopular decisions about reductions, and he thinks that America is going to have bigger distinctions between poor and rich people in the future. In that way America is a lot more behindhand in the development than for example Europe. As he sees it, the American spirit results in an ineffective country.

Jesper loves his job, and he travels around America with his two photographs Peter and Thomas. The three most important things to carry all the time, is mobile phones, the TV2-microfone-“hat” and makeup. It is absolutely impossible to make plans ahead, and he must be available at any time. Jesper reveals some of the reporter-methods; for example that every time he is reporting live from The White House, he is sitting in his own room in front of a TV screen with a non-moving picture of The White House.

Even though Jesper loves his job, he could not imagine himself living in America for the rest of his life. Actually he has been more impressed by Denmark and its society after moving to America. The listeners are glad to hear that, and leave the room with a smile.  

-Isabella