Every Thursday almost 40 students get an insider’s perspective on the war in Iraq via satellite from the Middle East.

“War and Media,” taught by faculty members Joe Foote, dean of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Zach Messitte, vice provost for international programs, is gaining attention. In fact, there’s a waiting list to get in.

The class provides tools with which to learn and access to experienced individuals so students can how the war in Iraq is different from previous wars.

Students have the opportunity to communicate with Mike Boettcher, an embedded news correspondent at Camp Liberty and OU alumnus.

“The thought of being in Norman, Oklahoma, and talking to somebody in Iraq ... It’s giving me a firsthand view of what it’s really all about in a way that would never be feasible under usual circumstances,” said Erick Cohn, public relations senior.

In December 2007, Boettcher dropped contracts with NBC and CNN and decided to join forces with his son, Carlos Boettcher. They started NoIgnoring.com, which details their experiences while embedded for 15 months with American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The project’s motto is “Truth Thru Risk,” and the Boettchers have made it their mission to find the “real story” about the men and women serving overseas.

“I believe that the nation has lost touch with the 200,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who are abroad in war zones in the Middle East and Central Asia. We at NoIgnoring want to give the U.S. military a face that the public can recognize,” Boettcher said.

Boettcher said there is not a single national news network or newspaper that has a journalist embedded full-time with the military.

NoIgnoring.com was born when Boettcher became frustrated after noticing the U.S. media and public had lost interest in the war. Boettcher said he hopes his involvement with the class will help the next generation avoid similar mistakes.

“It is critically important to our democracy,” Boettcher said.

Messitte said he thinks the class will affect students and their world view.

“Learning about international relations is not just about reading textbooks and studying theory; it’s also about practical, day-to-day discussions and knowledge that are important. This class will deal with that,” Messitte said.

Boettcher’s goal of preventing future generations from repeating mistakes of the past may come true.

Army Maj. Randy Baucom, international relations graduate student, came to the university after 13 years in the military. With 30 months of service in the Middle East under his belt, he said he knows what real-life interactions between soldiers and the media are like. Baucom said he hopes his younger classmates grasp something very basic from the class.

“I hope they learn that it’s a big, big world. Don’t rush to judge,” he said.

Foote is optimistic that the class’s format, now cutting-edge, will soon become commonplace.

“The idea of talking to someone live in the field is hopefully something we will try in settings like politics and others,” Foote said.