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Jim Hill Media
- Thread starter Monty
- Start date
ClemsonTigger
Naturally Grumpy
Figment1986
Well-Known Member
This Thread is great! Though which Jim Hill do you mean? We have a Jim Hill who is a reporter for the local fox who is not the same as that guy from the media.
cm1988
Active Member
Jim Hill
He runs a well-established, expertly-written website. He freely shares his own opinions, and invites comment and diverging options. He reports news and opinions from a network of current and former theme park employees.
He gets bashed by several readers of this website; I'm sincerely not sure why.
Like many readers of wdwmagic.com, he often discusses closed attractions and Disney history in great and accurate detail. To me, that seems evidence of a genuine love of Disney and since his words and website are free to all, I'm not sure the drumbeat of criticism and derisive use of icons is deserved or even appropriate.
I say give the guy a little respect or ignore him if it bothers you that some reporting and predictions prove false. I have been around the Walt Disney Company long enough to know that any plan is uncertain until long after the first shovel of dirt is turned. Example: the resort they started to build east of Bonnet Creek Golf Courses. They had put in a steel and concrete bridge and roadway, then stopped construction after 9/11. Simularly, all those buildings at Pop Century. And the resort they started to build on Bay Lake. How about 25% of Michael Eisner's "Disney Decade"... was he an unreliable reporter, lacking in knowledge?
My suggestion would be to close this thread or move it to another forum. This is not news or a rumor. It is backstabbing gossip.
He runs a well-established, expertly-written website. He freely shares his own opinions, and invites comment and diverging options. He reports news and opinions from a network of current and former theme park employees.
He gets bashed by several readers of this website; I'm sincerely not sure why.
Like many readers of wdwmagic.com, he often discusses closed attractions and Disney history in great and accurate detail. To me, that seems evidence of a genuine love of Disney and since his words and website are free to all, I'm not sure the drumbeat of criticism and derisive use of icons is deserved or even appropriate.
I say give the guy a little respect or ignore him if it bothers you that some reporting and predictions prove false. I have been around the Walt Disney Company long enough to know that any plan is uncertain until long after the first shovel of dirt is turned. Example: the resort they started to build east of Bonnet Creek Golf Courses. They had put in a steel and concrete bridge and roadway, then stopped construction after 9/11. Simularly, all those buildings at Pop Century. And the resort they started to build on Bay Lake. How about 25% of Michael Eisner's "Disney Decade"... was he an unreliable reporter, lacking in knowledge?
My suggestion would be to close this thread or move it to another forum. This is not news or a rumor. It is backstabbing gossip.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
I think that some of his articles are interesting. You basically have to realize that it's just one person's views, an editorial if you will, of the news that he's obtained.
He does have a tendency to take a small nugget of information and make a whole story out of it. :shrug:
No clue who his sources are, and I'm sure that he's not about to reveal any of them, even it it meant increasing his credibility.
A lot of people will read anything that has to do with WDW.
He does have a tendency to take a small nugget of information and make a whole story out of it. :shrug:
No clue who his sources are, and I'm sure that he's not about to reveal any of them, even it it meant increasing his credibility.
A lot of people will read anything that has to do with WDW.
EPCOT.nut
Well-Known Member
Is all this because I thought he was Canadian? :shrug:
WDW Monorail
Well-Known Member
I have nothing against him. I have read very many of his articles and have enjoyed about 80% of them. He is a wealth of information.
His article about the Night Kingdom stirred some bad blood on Disney sites. People were saying that it would NEVER happen because of what 'Walt wanted.' Well, guess what, it is happening.
He was the first person to introduce the idea of electronic park maps and GPS within the parks. Granted he got the medium incorrect (DS instead of cellular device) but it was fairly accurate.
I respect him because he acknowledges that he has foes and wishes to alleviate some of the tension. he actually posted on this board a couple of years ago to do just that.
Now, don't get me started on Al...
His article about the Night Kingdom stirred some bad blood on Disney sites. People were saying that it would NEVER happen because of what 'Walt wanted.' Well, guess what, it is happening.
He was the first person to introduce the idea of electronic park maps and GPS within the parks. Granted he got the medium incorrect (DS instead of cellular device) but it was fairly accurate.
I respect him because he acknowledges that he has foes and wishes to alleviate some of the tension. he actually posted on this board a couple of years ago to do just that.
Now, don't get me started on Al...
dxwwf3
Well-Known Member
First off, I love JHM and I really enjoy listening to Jim on the Magical Definition Podcast. I think he does a great job.
But the only thing I have against his article on Night Kingdom is the constant reference to a 5th gate and a new "theme park". If this ends up how he's describing it, this is no more of a 5th gate than Blizzard Beach is. From what I've been hearing, this will not be a theme park. Just like there aren't too many people who consider Discovery Cove a theme park. It's a boutique park and is more Disney Institute than Magic Kingdom. Just don't call it a 5th gate because it won't be.
WDW Monorail
Well-Known Member
I agree with you.
His writing style seems to be a bit 'iffy' as well. Probably another reason why people don't like him. He seems to present certain things as facts rather than his own opinions.
Kamikaze
Well-Known Member
He posts basically everything he hears. So sometimes hes right, most times hes wrong. He has a very negative slant and posting style, and thats why people hate him.
Captain Hank
Well-Known Member
75% of his articles are interesting (namely, the historically based ones).
25% of his articles are pure fantasy presented as fact.
100% of his articles are written in a manner that makes me want to throw my copy of Elements of Style at him. Hard.
25% of his articles are pure fantasy presented as fact.
100% of his articles are written in a manner that makes me want to throw my copy of Elements of Style at him. Hard.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
That's right because everyone knows that DisneyQuest was the 4th gate and Animal Kingdom truly is the 5th gate :lookaroun
lilclerk
Well-Known Member
Agreed agreed. I spent a few days a few months ago reading his site, mostly about Western River Expedition, and his historical stuff is pretty great. I don't pay much attention to rumors at all unless on forums because I enjoy the discussions that branch from them.
And I am not a fabulous writer, but I don't publish a website that thousands of people are reading. He should brush up on his writin' skillz. That's the main reason why he bugs me.
daliseurat
Member
I like him. He entertains me. I take everything I read online with a grain of salt. I agree and disagree with him. And I do find that he's right more often than not. If you don't like him, don't read his stuff. Don't go to his site. But really, it's pretty childish to insult him (or anyone) behind his back here. If you have a problem with him, go to his site and confront him. And that goes for Al as well. No one MAKES any of us read anyone's stuff online. And I for one like that they are there for me to enjoy or disagree with.
Then I remembered that's not correct.....:lol:
Thiger
New Member
Personally I enjoy reading his site. Whether its fact or fiction you have to admit that Disney conjures many many ideas and only picks out the ones they think are worthwhile. Naturally even if a CEO of disney came out and said 'we're gonna do this' and then 3 months later find out that its not feasible we'd feel bad blood.
I think the internet is wonderful that anyone can publish what they feel, its the common beliefs of Americans and Canadians alike so why would we dislike him so much? Who cares about his grammer? His historical articles can't be beat and even though some of his forcasting pieces don't come true they are entertaining and help to make my week go by a little easier.
I guess all I'm saying is that i wish we'd all go a little easier on the guy as he's taking the time to write about all of our favourite subject: Disney.
I think the internet is wonderful that anyone can publish what they feel, its the common beliefs of Americans and Canadians alike so why would we dislike him so much? Who cares about his grammer? His historical articles can't be beat and even though some of his forcasting pieces don't come true they are entertaining and help to make my week go by a little easier.
I guess all I'm saying is that i wish we'd all go a little easier on the guy as he's taking the time to write about all of our favourite subject: Disney.
Christi22222
Active Member
I guess I don't see why this thread topic is so bad and should be shut down or moved. I don't know one diddly thing about Jim Hill. However, if he writes a public website that covers Disney material/information, this is a plenty fine place to discuss him and his material. This also is a public forum, so I don't see how it is "going behind his back." The original post was searching for understanding of a sort, not bashing. And many folks have now had an opportunity to express what it is they do appreciate from Jim Hill's site, despite whatever other negatives there may be. I think as much as there have been accusations flying about mean spirited backstabbing, it is quite interesting that a number of Jim Hill defenders have taken the opportunity not just to respond to the original thread topic, but to defend Jim Hill from all negative feedback he has ever gotten. In my book, that is a bit of the pot calling out the kettle. Just take this chance to spread the word about what you see of value in Mr. Hill's writing and website. Then chill out and move on.
