The Jeremiad Over Journalism

4.2.2 The exchanged journalists
The Danish journalist Kurt Boelsgaard in 1969 spent a year at Columbia University in their
Advanced International Reporting Program, as the first Scandinavian ever, and received a ―grant
from Thanks to Scandinavia,‖ before he ―set course towards Columbia in New York, whose
Graduate School of Journalism, is world famous, and where several Danish students have given us a
good reputation.‖ 400 Boelsgaard described himself as a ―kid in a chocolate store,‖ when he saw the
course catalog at Columbia, and took advantage of everything a year of educational exchange had to
offer academically.
―How much did I get done? Three lecture series per semester (and there are two in an
academic year) plus some seminars and courses that I listened in on. It does not tell the full
story. Additional education cannot be measured or weighed. One is simply ‗ignorant at a
higher level.‘ With a slightly greater knowledge, better grasp of language and more
experience. And then one has been recharged for returning to the daily routine.‖ 401
Clearly, Boelsgaard thought of his year on educational exchange to the United States as a success,
and his views were shared by almost all other Danes who also enjoyed an exchange experience,
regardless of their field of study. Professor Isi Foighel, who conducted research during a stay at
Harvard Law School and subsequently attended several seminars on American politics in Denmark,
wrote about his experience,
―It is beyond any doubt that my opinion of American life has changed during my visit. It
makes a great difference to live in a country for six months to get some idea of the size of the
country and of the problems which are debated in the American society. I could not say that
400 Kurt Boelsgaard, "Sabbatår Med Ekstra Slid [Sabbatical with Extra Work]," Journalisten, no. 9 (1970). Page 11.
401 Ibid. Page 11. My translation. Original text reads, "Pengene blev skaffet fra flere steder. For det første fik jeg et legat
fra Thanks to Scandinavia (...) Jeg stilede imod Columbia i New York, hvis Graduate School of Journalism har verdensry,
og hvor flere danske studerende har givet os et godt renomme. (...) Når man først får stukket det digre program fra
School of International Affairs i hånden, føler man sig som et barn, der slippes løs i en chokoladeforretning. (...)
Videreuddannelse kan ikke måles og vejes. Man er 'ignorant på et højere plan' med en lidt større konkret viden, bedre
sprogkundskaber og flere erfaringer. Og så er der ladet op til at se friskere på den daglige rutine, jeg nu er tilbage i."
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