Jim Hill denied entrance to stockholders meeting

[wdw4us2]

Jim Hill of jimhillmedia.com was denied entrance to the Disney annual meeting yesterday in Philadelphia.

For the complete story, here's the link:

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm


For those of you that don't know, Jim Hill and his contributors frequently write articles about Disney Theme Parks and the Disney Company.

 

[mochabean]

Does anyone have the text of the WSJ article quoting Jim? WSJ requires subscriptions to access their articles.

 

[wdw4us2]

I'm working on getting it so I can post the article.

 

[mikeymars]

The notable quote within the Hill report:

"WDC board of directors had separated the positions of CEO and Chairman of the board. Michael Eisner has stepped down as Chairman and will remain CEO of the WDC. Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, who received a 24.1% withhold at Wednesday's shareholders' meeting, has been named Chairman of the board of directors.

In statements issued over the past two days, Stanley Gold and Roy Disney have made it clear that such a maneuver by the Disney board would be "unacceptable".

In other words, in case anyone need confirmation, this battle is far from over.

 

[wdw4us2]

You can find a transcript of the Wall Street Journal article witht this link:

http://disneyworldtrivia.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1403#post1403

 

[WDSearcher]

Guess Jim Hill should have tried to get in as just a regular old stockholder instead of using the "press credential" card. It's not like press credentials get you anything more (well ... except, apparently, breakfast). Had he gone as just a regular shareholder, he'd probably have been fine.

 

[wdw4us2]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Guess Jim Hill should have tried to get in as just a regular old stockholder instead of using the "press credential" card. It's not like press credentials get you anything more (well ... except, apparently, breakfast). Had he gone as just a regular shareholder, he'd probably have been fine.

Mr. Hill does not own Disney stock, because he doesn't want to be accused of favoritism or impropriety.

If I had been able to attend the meeting, I would have gladly taken him as my guest. Any type of censorship is uncalled for in a publicly traded company.

 

[WDSearcher]

If that's the case -- never knew he didn't own stock ... wonder if he NEVER did, or if he sold it when he started his website. I could have sworn that he mentioned being a stockholder in his old Orlando Weekly columns.

But, that's beside the point ... I guess, then, that he should have had a "Plan B." Surely there must have been someone there that he knew who could have brought him in as a guest. Although, I suppose that by the time his credentials were pulled, the ballroom was already full.

 

[Bob O]

When a company wants to CENSOR info, they will always find a excuse/justification for there actions.
Apparently disney/eisner cant handle the truth!!!!!!

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"Any type of censorship is uncalled for in a publicly traded company."***

Censorship ???? Was the internet broadcast time delayed and edited ? Were all press types declined entry ?

 

[wdw4us2]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
***"Any type of censorship is uncalled for in a publicly traded company."***

Censorship ???? Was the internet broadcast time delayed and edited ? Were all press types declined entry ?

You will see I said ANY kind of censorship is uncalled for. I did not say anything to infer TOTAL censorship or indicate all members of the press had their credentials withdrawn immediately before the start of the meeting.

If they didn't want to issue him press credentials, they should have told him initially instead of waiting until it was impossible for him to be admitted as a guest.

 

[KNWVIKING]

**"You will see I said ANY kind of censorship is uncalled for."**

Disney did not censor anything. Every word spoken,every financial factoid is a matter of public record. Denying Jim access to the meeting may have been a petty cheap shot,but it wasn't censorship.

 

[wdw4us2]

Okay, I concede that my choice of wording could have been better.

However, that does not alter the fact that Disney pulled a fast one on Mr. Hill because they were concerned about what he would write on his website.

This type of action, and others like it, are precisely what has turned so many people against Ei$ner and the leadership of the Walt Disney Company.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***" However, that does not alter the fact that Disney pulled a fast one on Mr. Hill because they were concerned about what he would write on his website.

This type of action, and others like it, are precisely what has turned so many people against Ei$ner and the leadership of the Walt Disney Company."***

Absolutely.

 

[raidermatt]

Glad we got the semantics issues out of the way.

But, that's beside the point ... I guess, then, that he should have had a "Plan B."

C'mon. You are issued press credentials, you expect to be let in. I doubt many of the other members of the press concerned themselves with a Plan B.

My guess is, whoever made the decision assumed he would still get in as a shareholder, therefore limiting the negative perception.

Oops.

 

[Planogirl]

What was the point of denying him access anyway? It's not like it was a closed meeting! Stupid move.

 

[KMovies]

Maybe the point of not letting him in was one more seat for an actual stockholder.

Who says that you need every media person in the room?

 

[wdw4us2]

Jim Hill was interviewed on MSNBC last night. If you want to see video of the Deborah Norville interview click on the link below:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4437434/

 

[BRERALEX]

thanx for posting the link i caught it live and he really didnt get a chance to say much lol

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by KMovies
Maybe the point of not letting him in was one more seat for an actual stockholder.

Who says that you need every media person in the room?

That might be OK IF he wasn't the only media person barred after having received prior approval. From what I understand he and the other guy who works for his site were the only newspeople that had this problem.