Should Al get his resume ready?
 

http://jobsearch.disneycareers.newjo...4&sort=dt&vw=b

Wow. This will be a VERY interesting development. Looks like they are finally acknowledging the impact the internet community has and want to start being proactive about getting their message out there (here?) instead of people digging for stuff. It will be fascinating to see how the various sites incorporate this new direction.

Yow! Who's applying? What a coup that would be, if it were someone we knew.

Very interesting.

This, however, will not stop people from digging for stuff, because it is a Disney site and it will only serve as another media outlet for what they want released. There won't be info that gets posted by the insiders, which I would figure is what Disney fans want. I read stuff like miceage because it tells me stuff that Disney isn't publicizing.

The impact I see it having is taking away people from joining and frequenting existing such as this one or mouseplanet. They will do their internet searches, find an actaul Disney site, and most likely opt to ge there.

But notice that it's not just setting up their own site, but interfacing with existing sites. I suspect at least a couple of the sites will happily take the material this new department generates, namely ones that are trying to cater more to tourists than fanatics. It will lend them credibility from the perspective of the casual tourist if they have official Disney material published on their site.

Of course, not all the sites will want to play their game (thus my ironic thread title). However I think what they're hoping is to buffer the casual community from, well, us. The more Disney is out there actively communicating with their customers, the less apt they are to dig deeper. I suspect what we'll see from Disney is some incremental increase in the amount of detail they are willing to release publically, which should satisfy MOST people. Sure, it's not going to completely stop the rumor mill, but it could definitely contain it.

Oh, and now I realize my thread title probably doesn't sound like what I meant. I meant to imply, "should Al apply for this position," not, "Will this force Al out of work."

Pretty unilkely it will be anyone we know. They aren't looking from within the internet community. The qualifications are for a very experienced media person (communications degree, PR experience, newsroom experience). Of course, this manager will probably have a team associated with them, and considering the responsibilities it would probably make sense to look within the community at that point.

I've got two of those three :snap:

I know that the reading of internet Disney boards was already being done by the company, but it is interesting that they have expanded that position into a formal managerial structure. They obviously desire more control over what is being said about the company. It will be interesting to see what kind of impact the manager has on the rumor mill - especially when there are tragedies such as the BTMRR crash.

Well, now that they disbanded the Disney magazine perhaps they have some inhouse talent that could create an online version. The proliferation of Disneyboards clearly indicate that there are opportunities for Disney here - as long as the keep out of the board politics (Marcie anyone?). I'll be curious to see how it works out, there's a lot of possibility if they have the right person in charge - but if they have to go get approval for every move or statement, they'll have a hard time gaining credibility.

Wait wait... they did what? Why did I not know this?

Darn that 5-7 year experience requirement! I'm actively looking for a new job, too. (and snap quite the nice photo when I put my mind to it!)

Doubt that's a requirment for the managment job....there's plenty of folks that dedicate their lives to snapping photo's

How about snappy comebacks?

I dunno... While this could be a positive thing, I just see it as a big propaganda arm for the company. It's pretty much going to be DisneyFlack.com, I would bet.

I don't see it so much as propaganda, or rather, no more propaganda than they already put forth (via ads, press releases, info they give their customer service reps). I just see it as a way to placate a demographic they've ignored (namely, people who use the internet as their main source of info) and reduce the number of people who stumble across the less official sources of Disney info.

I think it's about time that they do something like this. We already know that boards like these can influence entire tv networks to change or save tv shows. Disney should reach out into the net community for feedback.

Don't count on it. Terms like "advocacy group" and "positive news stories" say to me that this project is going to be all about spin control.

the job posting has been there since march, at least, february even.

IMHO i think that disneycareers.com is a joke, they have been NOTORIOUS for promoting from within, and being an advocate of that, but due to legal reasons, they have to offer the job to the outside world as well too, even though outside people have little to no chance of being hired into TDA as anything more than an entry level person.