Hill was an alumnus of Harvard University.

As a member of the group of reporters who were alternatively known as either the Writing 69th, the Legion of the Doomed or The Flying Typewriters, Hill trained with The United States Eighth Air Force. The training covered important topics such as high altitude adjustment, weapons and parachuting. Hill worked for the Associated Press from 1936-1944 and was the AP correspondent assigned to the bomber missions. Hill flew his first and last mission on Feb. 26, 1943. On that day one of the planes carrying a reporter, Robert Post, was shot down and Post and eight Air Force personnel were killed. He described the mission in his article the next day:

"It was thrilling. Yet at the same time it was strangely prosaic in the business-like efficiency with which it was executed."

After WWII ended Hill went to work for the New York Times in their Los Angeles bureau. Hill worked their from 1946-1968. On Nov. 22, 1963 Hill was dispatched by the Times to Dallas to cover the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He eventually voluntarily offered the FBI an interview about what he knew in relation to Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. The interview basically determined when Hill heard the shot and "immediately realizing what was happening he ran out of the police building through another exit to take up a position by the van." In addition, Hill also wrote books on environmental issues and politics.

Hill died from lung cancer in 1992 at the age of 78.