GOOCHONLINE - Since 1999

I think the worst thing a writer can do in terms of relations with his or her fellow writers for a publication is write a letter to another publication giving praise for a great story idea. Click HERE to see why I'll forever have food thrown at me at Jam Magazine reunions.

I think Portland has more news helicopters per capita than any other city in the world. I used to make fun of the news choppers because there was such a race by the local affiliates to get their own helicopters first (one station here in Portland, KATU...The Power of Two on VHF channel 2 bought/leased TWO helicopters. Get it?... They're on channel 2 and they have 2 helicopters! Oh the hijinks! (one chopper crashed shortly after its acquisition).

In the first column I wrote for the PSU Vanguard, I complained that these stupid helicopters were being used for stupid reasons... LIVE coverage of a cigarette billboard. Like it's going to take off before a news van can get there. At the end of that column I was begging someone to start a high speed chase just so I could watch it on TV.

Well yesterday a high-speed LA styled chase ensued in Portland. A high speed chase led by someone with an assault rifle. A high speed chase complete with civilians trying to slow the driver down and three big-rigs forming a 'V' to ultimately stop the chase.

So where was the news choppers? I'm waiting for the news to come on and when it does, no aerial footage. Portland has (my count) like five or six television news choppers. Not one could get in the air? Portland television news is 75% self promotion, 20% rebroadcast of national news, and 5% crap.