I am going to present this story in two parts. Above the video package is FTVLive’s take on this.

Below the video, is an email, sent to FTVLive from a Tulsa Journalist.

Okay, first the set up.

St. Francis is a large hospital in Tulsa that was the scene of a mass shooting one year ago.

KTUL (Tulsa) Reporter Sam Gelfand covered the anniversary of the shooting.

On his social media, he posted this. (If you can’t see the video below, here’s a direct link.)

He then told viewers to go out of their way to watch HIS package.

Here is the package, he did, on the backside of the story, we’ll had it off to a Tulsa Journalist and their take.

Scott,

Take a look a this awkward PKG from KTUL.

Even some of the victims’ families are saying it’s just weird and uncomfortable.

Sam Gelfand wasn’t in Tulsa for this shooting, and he’s never done any stories with the victims associated with this.

However, he inserted himself into the story, especially that awkward mid-package stand up, so many times there’s a “thanks but no thanks” feeling behind how he tried to be overly poetic to the point it turned into “all about me”.

Can a reporter really talk about the condition of people’s souls? Can someone who wasn’t on the ground for the tragedy really talk like he was there? Like he was shot? Like he lost something? Why did he need to put himself in the middle of the package giving what is more opinion and commentary than fact? What does this kid really know about tragedy especially this one?

This kid saw this as a moment to be Boyd Hupert or some kind of wordsmith and it turned into total word salad that missed the point the other stations and even other Channel 8 reporters said about the healing process is underway. 

He could’ve gotten away with this had he even cited a source or two, but it all looks like he’s trying too hard and made this whole anniversary about him instead. 

I saw your previous Lighten Up Francis story. Francis didn’t lighten up. Francis instead went to Saint Francis and reported a story so depressing I could walk into oncoming traffic and feel better.