Oregon Media Insiders

Anyone can read the Big O, only a handful of us can folo it up, like me. Or Lynn.

Years ago, a local businessman named Michael, who owns a very popular sandwich shop, was caught with a small marijuana grow-op in the attic of the store. Cops hauled him off to jail for a few minutes and Big O wrote it up.

Me, being a wide awake journalist at the KGW 8am story meeting, knew that dozens of hungry men and women would be lining up at Mike's for their favorite lunches, but would go away sad because he was still busy making bail.

I sent Jon Catton to do the "color" folo-up -- and guess who was outside a closed Mike's waiting for lunch? Tons of hungry people including cops, yes, even ol' Derrick F. was in line. They gave us the best quotes and were more than ready to forgive Mike, for one of his sandwiches.

Big O missed the folo, but gave us the idea.

There is copying and there is journalism.

Be a journalist. Please.

And if there is not enough news in Portland to fill an hour newscast, do a half-hour and run an old "Adam 12" instead. Your viewers will thank you.