OU Professor, Award-Winning Journalist Reflects On Oklahoma City Bombing

As the Oklahoma community gathers to remember Apr. 19, 1995, a University of Oklahoma professor and Ponca City native is sharing his thoughts about his experience 29 years ago.

Mike Boettcher is a veteran war correspondent and journalism professor at OU, and said on Friday he comes to Oklahoma City looking for hope.

"Every Apr. 19, I realized how much this impacted me," Boettcher said. "I'd covered violence all over the globe, and suddenly it had come to my home, and it made me angry."

Now, nearly three decades later, Boettcher said he is proud of what the city has become.

"The way Oklahoma City responded to this is one of the most magnificent things in Oklahoma history," Boettcher said. "What the city has become today, I'm so proud of this place."

Boettcher said his experience knowledge of journalism and help him guide his students and help them learn from tragedies such as the Oklahoma City Bombing.

"Journalism is protected by the First Amendment, it's the First Amendment for a reason, because we should air our grievances publicly and in the legislature and in public forums," Boettcher said. "We don't resort to violence, and the stories you tell about the differences we have and how we can reconcile those, that is the most important lesson I have for my students."