'OU Journalism professor to imbed with troops for students' Text
Aired 7/10/2008 by KFOR News, Channel 4
Lance West: And topping news from the sky center tonight, more long range missile tests for Iran overnight apparently designed to send a message that country could attack US forces or Israel if threatened. Iranian leaders also said they would shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Forty percent of the world’s oil supply passes through that straight. Those latest missile launches highlight a continuing truth about the Middle East, that is conflict as US forces experience the conflict every day in Iraq an Oklahoma native will be right in the middle of it. Sherry Mills has more on the bold but dangerous new journey of Mike Boettcher and how he’s helping OU students experience military life on the front lines.
Sherry Mills: Mike Boettcher grew up in Ponca City eventually going on to the University of Oklahoma. From there he’s gone on to become a well respected journalist for the networks of NBC and CNN, but now he’s giving back in a unique way, teaching students at OU while he’s in Iraq.
Mike Boettcher: My name is Mike Boettcher. For 28 years…
Zach Messitte: I think this is really the ultimate teachable moment.
Boettcher: …that if we’re in a war, people need to see what is going on out there.
(gunfire sounds)
Mills: That’s the view Mike Boettcher is trying to give us all. He’s covered the war for networks many times but this time, it’s different.
Boettcher: The military is granting us extraordinary access to go where we want to go, when we want to go, to tell the stories.
Mills: He’s spending 15 months in Iraq telling the stories of our troops in a new way, this time with no network backing him.
Boettcher: This project is the stories of the people on the ground who are serving us the best way they know how.
Mills: Part of his project is teaching OU students what it’s really like on the ground in Iraq.
Messitte: But this is a chance to bring this war of which there are 130,000 Americans serving in-country who are putting their lives in danger every day. It’s the chance for 35 young people to get a glimpse of what that world is like.
Mills: Zach Messitte, from OU’s International Studies department, will teach a class with Boettcher this fall. Messitte will be here in OU’s library with the students while Boettcher joins them virtually once a week.
Messitte: …so that students will get a chance to see the whole picture of what’s going on on the ground in Iraq.
Mills: It’s an idea that the university sees as the future of Higher Education.
Messitte: I can’t imagine 10 years ago, 20 years ago for sure, that something like this would have been part of a course.
Mills: The danger ahead for Boettcher is imminent, but he says the stories that come with it cannot be ignored. Boettcher leaves for Iraq next week. While there he plans to spend his time as the troops do, only taking leave for 18 days which is the same amount of time any of our troops would get also. Back to you…
Lance West: Shelly, thank you. Boettcher says he is very aware that he may not return home however, he says all he can do is live one day-at-a-time telling the stories of the men and women who are serving our country. Meg…
Meg Alexander: They are all so brave. Thank you so much Lance.
END
Aired 7/10/2008 by KFOR News, Channel 4
Lance West: And topping news from the sky center tonight, more long range missile tests for Iran overnight apparently designed to send a message that country could attack US forces or Israel if threatened. Iranian leaders also said they would shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Forty percent of the world’s oil supply passes through that straight. Those latest missile launches highlight a continuing truth about the Middle East, that is conflict as US forces experience the conflict every day in Iraq an Oklahoma native will be right in the middle of it. Sherry Mills has more on the bold but dangerous new journey of Mike Boettcher and how he’s helping OU students experience military life on the front lines.
Sherry Mills: Mike Boettcher grew up in Ponca City eventually going on to the University of Oklahoma. From there he’s gone on to become a well respected journalist for the networks of NBC and CNN, but now he’s giving back in a unique way, teaching students at OU while he’s in Iraq.
Mike Boettcher: My name is Mike Boettcher. For 28 years…
Zach Messitte: I think this is really the ultimate teachable moment.
Boettcher: …that if we’re in a war, people need to see what is going on out there.
(gunfire sounds)
Mills: That’s the view Mike Boettcher is trying to give us all. He’s covered the war for networks many times but this time, it’s different.
Boettcher: The military is granting us extraordinary access to go where we want to go, when we want to go, to tell the stories.
Mills: He’s spending 15 months in Iraq telling the stories of our troops in a new way, this time with no network backing him.
Boettcher: This project is the stories of the people on the ground who are serving us the best way they know how.
Mills: Part of his project is teaching OU students what it’s really like on the ground in Iraq.
Messitte: But this is a chance to bring this war of which there are 130,000 Americans serving in-country who are putting their lives in danger every day. It’s the chance for 35 young people to get a glimpse of what that world is like.
Mills: Zach Messitte, from OU’s International Studies department, will teach a class with Boettcher this fall. Messitte will be here in OU’s library with the students while Boettcher joins them virtually once a week.
Messitte: …so that students will get a chance to see the whole picture of what’s going on on the ground in Iraq.
Mills: It’s an idea that the university sees as the future of Higher Education.
Messitte: I can’t imagine 10 years ago, 20 years ago for sure, that something like this would have been part of a course.
Mills: The danger ahead for Boettcher is imminent, but he says the stories that come with it cannot be ignored. Boettcher leaves for Iraq next week. While there he plans to spend his time as the troops do, only taking leave for 18 days which is the same amount of time any of our troops would get also. Back to you…
Lance West: Shelly, thank you. Boettcher says he is very aware that he may not return home however, he says all he can do is live one day-at-a-time telling the stories of the men and women who are serving our country. Meg…
Meg Alexander: They are all so brave. Thank you so much Lance.
END