Who is Jim Hill, anyway?

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by Lee
Who is Jim?
Let's see...
-He's been on the fringes of the Disney Co. for around 15 years, in various capacities. Michelle, his ex, was employed by Disney in the 1990s. During their time in Orlando they cultivated MANY rock solid sources, including many at WDI, at least one I know of that they were quire close to.
-He used to write a column for an Orlando paper.
-His internet columns have bounced around from site to site before he and Michelle put together JimHillMedia.

Why does he write negative things! To shine a light on them so that people will see what is going on. Like Feature Animation Florida. He took Disney to task for closing the shop, not because he doesn't like Disney, but because he wanted people to know that some uncool stuff goes on. Same with the article today. It sounds bad, it may be bad, and either way the issue is now on the table.

Don't take his columns as news. He ain't a reporter, just a writer who passes on information that is given to him.

Oh and he's a pretty nice guy. Michelle, too. Well, not a GUY...you know what I mean.

On another topic, I read that he gives tours of DL in CA. I think it would be cool getting a tour of DL from someone as knowledgable of DL as he is! So, on my next trip is CA, I hope he is doing these tours again. Which also got me thinking... I'm very knowledgable about WDW, and so are many people here, so why don't we (me and others on this Board) organize tours of WDW??? I am notorious of taking my friends on such tours, and they all wonder why I'm not working for Disney (with all my knowledge and behind-the-scenes stories)!

 

[TiggerBW]

I met Jim H. in line for the Roy Disney reception in Philly.
I saw him and I thought to myself, "so that's the famous Jim Hill, interesting!" Didn't really talk to him much. Just told him I was familar with his site and all. I mentioned WDWMAGIC but he didn't act as if he's heard of this site. Oh well!

 

[General Grizz]

A LOT of what he says is extremely accurate -- there's also a video of him on MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4437434/ *scroll down and see video* Fab is on it, also!

 

[Pixie Duster]

Jim Hill wouldn't be happy if he won a million dollars, oh did I say that :lookaroun

 

[Donaldistheduck]

WOW, Jim Hill looks EXACTLY like I pictured him.

 

[Tigggrl]

My problem with this guy is that a local news station here in Cali did a report on Mission Space, claiming that it was not doing as well as expected, and they pointed out that too many people were getting sick, and that the word on the ride was it was a "Failure"...their "source" for this in depth report????...you guessed it...JIM HILL MEDIA

If people want to post an opinion, thats fine, everyone has one, but to have MAJOR news affiliates take it as the "Official" word was just wrong....

 

[Tim G]

Originally posted by Tigggrl
My problem with this guy is that a local news station here in Cali did a report on Mission Space, claiming that it was not doing as well as expected, and they pointed out that too many people were getting sick, and that the word on the ride was it was a "Failure"...their "source" for this in depth report????...you guessed it...JIM HILL MEDIA

If people want to post an opinion, thats fine, everyone has one, but to have MAJOR news affiliates take it as the "Official" word was just wrong....

Jim Hill...

I don't like the guy...

 

[DMC-12]

Does it creep anybody else out... that Deborah Norville (see the video link Grizz posted) has an adams apple.. :lol: :lookaroun

 

[Tim G]

Originally posted by DMC-12
Does it creep anybody else out... that Deborah Norville (see the video link Grizz posted) has an adams apple.. :lol: :lookaroun

:lol: :lookaroun :lol:

 

[Lee]

Originally posted by Tigggrl
If people want to post an opinion, thats fine, everyone has one, but to have MAJOR news affiliates take it as the "Official" word was just wrong....

Not Jim's fault.
He just passed on what he was told by Epcot operations folks.
If a reporter can't take the time to look in to it, and just relies on a coulmn on a website.....that is what is wrong.

 

[Lee]

Originally posted by Pixie Duster
Jim Hill wouldn't be happy if he won a million dollars, oh did I say that :lookaroun

You spelled it wrong.
It's A-l L-u -t-z :animwink:

 

[Pixie Duster]

My problem with him is this guy wouldn't know how to have a positive thought if he were put on an IV of Prozac. He needs balance, but he is too miserable a man to know what that word even means. Sorry I am a bit peeved over negative people, just a mood I am in...

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Too Big A Head

I agree with many of the postings here that Mr. Hill is too bitter and has let the notarity (sp?) go to his head. He gets a few good scoops, fine! But in order to be courted by TV and Press, he needs to supply the sensational. Just like that sweeps BS piece by CBS locals on food poisoning at Disney. Just Trash.

The way you make these stories believable is to start with basic facts, jump to a single or a few testimonies, add some numbers, and conclude for your audience that the world is coming to an end.

While I'm sure Jim Hill has some legitimate contacts, the ones that seek him out are often disgruntled or are looking for their piece of the sensationalism Disney bashing pie.

I too like his pieces on what might have been or what still may be and leave the National Enquirer stuff alone.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Too Big A Head

I agree with many of the postings here that Mr. Hill is too bitter and has let the notarity (sp?) go to his head. He gets a few good scoops, fine! But in order to be courted by TV and Press, he needs to supply the sensational. Just like that sweeps BS piece by CBS locals on food poisoning at Disney. Just Trash.

The way you make these stories believable is to start with basic facts, jump to a single or a few testimonies, add some numbers, and conclude for your audience that the world is coming to an end.

While I'm sure Jim Hill has some legitimate contacts, the ones that seek him out are often disgruntled or are looking for their piece of the sensationalism Disney bashing pie.

I too like his pieces on what might have been or what still may be and leave the National Enquirer stuff alone.

 

[MouseRight]

This is exactly what I was talking about the other day. After his "sky is falling" report about WDW's Central Base Consolidation he was bombarded with e-mails from the other side of the story. Read today's headline:
----------------
Revisiting Monday's WDW "Central Base" story ...
... Jim Hill discovers that -- while this proposed change-out remains controversial with some cast members -- other Disney World vets insist that safety at the theme park will NOT be compromised by the coming change.

Do you remember that four alarm story that we ran on this website back on Monday? The one that talked about how -- now that Disney World's theme parks are changing their "Central Base" set-ups -- guests' safety may be compromised?

Well, maybe we'd better rethink those four alarms. Perhaps ratchet this story down to just a two alarmer. Or maybe even just a one alarmer............


Hers's the link: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm
-------------------

And he didn't even have to do any investigative reporting. The other side of the story came to him. This original story never should have been put out there until he was able to show both sides.

 

[jrriddle]

Originally posted by Lee
You spelled it wrong.
It's A-l L-u -t-z :animwink:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Wilt Dasney]

He tries to make everything he writes fit into the same model (namely, long narrative with a moral at the end)...it's not a bad model, but not everything you come across in life is going to fit that mold...but he sure does try. Sometimes the effort is obvious.

He also relies too heavily on comfortable phrases. Almost any story on his site will at some point include the following, in almost the same wording:

"Well, kids, you'd probably think...right?"
"Actually, folks, you'd be wrong about...."
"And why didn't....ever become a reality? Well, to properly explain that, we have to go way back to..."
"Uncle Walt/ Uncle Mikey/ the Mouse"
"the Mouse" (again...he seems to love this phrase)

I do enjoy reading his bits on attractions that never made it; he just needs to diversify his writing style some and stop looking for a neatly-constructed story in every e-mail.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Actually Listening?

From previous posts, I clearly am in the camp of Jim Hill being ultra negative and sloppily sensationalistic, but trying to give the benefit of the doubt, at least he appears to be listening and attempting to provide SOME balance.

Heres an exerpt from a recent article on his site:

Speaking of balance ... That's what I'm actually shooting for here, folks. A balanced take on this story. Which is why -- over the next couple of weeks -- you'll see JimHillMedia.com run a number of letters from Disney World College Program veterans. Some of these stories will be upbeat and positive. While other articles ... will not be.

The end result? Well, I always think -- whenever I'm dealing with extremes of opinion -- that the truth has to lie somewhere in the middle. Based on what I've read and heard so far, it's clear that there are a number of folks who actually get a lot of Disney World's College Program. The letter that follows -- from a WDW CP vet who goes by the pseudonym of Scooter -- is a perfect example of that.

So there might be hope after all. Now maybe we can have Mr. Eisner admit he has made mistakes too...and we can agree that he may not be the great Satan!
:goodnevil

 

[FigmentImagines]

Why do we listen to Jim Hill?

It seems that anyone who searches the internet for insider Disney info stumbles across Jim Hill. He has a long and dicey history with Disney (which I'll leave out in the interest of staying focused.) He's a frequent podcast guest because much like RATATOUILLE'S Anton Ego, his criticism is often fun to read.

But while he claims to be a fan of the mouse, his articles often paint a different picture. (This is the guy who wrote article after article about what an embarrassing failure RATATOUILLE was before finally admitting to its tremendous success.)

What has me hopping mad now is a recent post to his site (Jim Hill : Oscar Watch '08: Miramax maxes out while the Mouse gets skunked) about the Oscar nominations. He writes about "a pretty impressive performance by Miramax Films. Particularly when you take into consideration the meager number of nominations that the Walt Disney Pictures side of the studio received this year."

FACT: Buena Vista earned 10 nominations, tied with Warner Bros. for 3rd. Only Miramax and Paramount Vantage received more, and he credits the Max with PV's nominations.

While he lists each and every Miramax nomination to make it look so impressive, he waves off Disney with a simple, "The Walt Disney Pictures side of the studio had to settle for a number of tech-related nominations."


"To just to recap here ... If you work for the Miramax Films side of the Mouse House, Tuesday was a very "good news day" indeed. If -- on the other hand -- you work for the Walt Disney Pictures side of the studio and/or ABC ... Well, let's just say that Blue Monday arrived one day late."

The article is just mean, mean, mean. I can only read into it that Jim Hill has some kind of grudge with Disney and doesn't miss an opportunity to take cheap shots.

Anyone else notice this?

 

[andre85]

^ The only thing I've noticed is the over-usage of "mind you" -- he uses it at least once per article, and it drives me insane. He also has a few other writing tics that make him stand out, and not in a good way.