Roxbury News
Encyclopedia
The Roxbury News is an independent video news company based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. The company is best known for producing news videos covering various city council and school board meetings, as well as Pennsylvania
political and governmental events.
The raw footage for the videos are recorded by freelance video teams hired by Roxbury. The editing and production is performed at company's office on State Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, adjacent to the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol
. The videos generally appear on the Roxbury News website, YouTube
, and other video sharing sites.
board member Eric Papenfuse reading a list of mock Christmas gifts for city officials. The contents of the video were reported by the Central Penn Business Journal. The Central Penn Business Journal
used footage from another Roxbury video as evidence to question the official story behind the firing of longtime Harrisburg Authority
financial adviser Bruce Barnes. The Central Penn Business Journal
, relying on the Roxbury News footage, noted that the firing happened shortly after Eric Papenfuse raised questions about a $27,000 bill from Barnes' firm. In another popular video, a Harrisburg School District board member excoriates a critic for making personal attacks on the District Superintendent.
In 2008, the Philadelphia Inquirer used Roxbury's footage from the 2006 "Bonusgate" trials
in its coverage of the event.
, The Morning Call, The Philadelphia Inquirer
, the Philadelphia Daily News
, The Citizens' Voice, that were subpoenaed to answer questions about their reports on the a grand jury investigation into political corruption surrounding the Mount Airy Casino Resort
. Roxbury said that his company had "one or two" videos related to the grand jury testimony in question, but wasn't sure how helpful his testimony could be, saying "I don't know what they think I could offer them. The information is readily available." In July 2008, James Roxbury testified at a closed hearing before Dauphin County
Judge Todd Hoover regarding the case. Roxbury's attorney, Adam Klein, told the Associated Press
that his client had "cooperated without compromising his rights under either the Constitution or the Shield Law." On July 17, 2008 Judge Hoover quashed all 15 subpoenas, including the one for Roxbury News.
account and deleted all but 1 of 160 news videos stored on that site. On the only video not deleted, the hackers left a message saying "You should just quit...I've seen better work from an autistic 4th grader with an eye patch on and no hands to even operate the camera, so yeah i guess you can see by now how much your life is a joke." In a video response, Roxbury offered a $1,000 bounty for information leading to the identification of the perpetrators and noted that he was working with YouTube administrators officials and law enforcement officials on the matter. James Roxbury said that "We feel this has to be a criminal activity. We know the videos must be getting to somebody," and was able to restore the videos from backup sources.
In July 2008, the Roxbury News office was burglarized, with thousands of dollars in audio visual equipment missing, including three 40-inch monitors, and two high-definition Panasonic HDX200 cameras, and other accessories. Because data storage units containing backups of his news videos were not touched, Roxbury did not believe the burglary was politically motivated.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. The company is best known for producing news videos covering various city council and school board meetings, as well as Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
political and governmental events.
The raw footage for the videos are recorded by freelance video teams hired by Roxbury. The editing and production is performed at company's office on State Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, adjacent to the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol
Pennsylvania State Capitol
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is in downtown Harrisburg. It was designed in 1902 in a Beaux-Arts style with Renaissance themes throughout...
. The videos generally appear on the Roxbury News website, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, and other video sharing sites.
Impact of new stories
One of Roxbury News' famous videos, "Papenfuse X-mas Gift List," contains footage of former Harrisburg AuthorityHarrisburg Authority
Harrisburg Authority is a municipal authority providing solid waste management services in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania....
board member Eric Papenfuse reading a list of mock Christmas gifts for city officials. The contents of the video were reported by the Central Penn Business Journal. The Central Penn Business Journal
Central Penn Business Journal
The Central Penn Business Journal is a business newspaper headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The publication is circulated on a weekly basis and covers five counties in central Pennsylvania: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York....
used footage from another Roxbury video as evidence to question the official story behind the firing of longtime Harrisburg Authority
Municipal Authority (Pennsylvania)
A Municipal Authority is a form of special-purpose governmental unit in Pennsylvania. The municipal authority is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes without the direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts...
financial adviser Bruce Barnes. The Central Penn Business Journal
Central Penn Business Journal
The Central Penn Business Journal is a business newspaper headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The publication is circulated on a weekly basis and covers five counties in central Pennsylvania: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York....
, relying on the Roxbury News footage, noted that the firing happened shortly after Eric Papenfuse raised questions about a $27,000 bill from Barnes' firm. In another popular video, a Harrisburg School District board member excoriates a critic for making personal attacks on the District Superintendent.
In 2008, the Philadelphia Inquirer used Roxbury's footage from the 2006 "Bonusgate" trials
2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
In 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses...
in its coverage of the event.
Grand jury subpoena
Roxbury News was among the media outlets, including the APAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, The Morning Call, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
, The Citizens' Voice, that were subpoenaed to answer questions about their reports on the a grand jury investigation into political corruption surrounding the Mount Airy Casino Resort
Mount Airy Casino Resort
The Mount Airy Casino Resort is a casino and hotel located in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. The casino resort has 188 hotel rooms, a casino with 2,523 slot machines and table games, five restaurants, a spa and salon, a nightclub, and an 18-hole golf course.-History of the Location:Mount Airy...
. Roxbury said that his company had "one or two" videos related to the grand jury testimony in question, but wasn't sure how helpful his testimony could be, saying "I don't know what they think I could offer them. The information is readily available." In July 2008, James Roxbury testified at a closed hearing before Dauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
Judge Todd Hoover regarding the case. Roxbury's attorney, Adam Klein, told the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
that his client had "cooperated without compromising his rights under either the Constitution or the Shield Law." On July 17, 2008 Judge Hoover quashed all 15 subpoenas, including the one for Roxbury News.
Account hack and burglary
On January 13, 2008, apparent hackers compromised Roxbury's YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account and deleted all but 1 of 160 news videos stored on that site. On the only video not deleted, the hackers left a message saying "You should just quit...I've seen better work from an autistic 4th grader with an eye patch on and no hands to even operate the camera, so yeah i guess you can see by now how much your life is a joke." In a video response, Roxbury offered a $1,000 bounty for information leading to the identification of the perpetrators and noted that he was working with YouTube administrators officials and law enforcement officials on the matter. James Roxbury said that "We feel this has to be a criminal activity. We know the videos must be getting to somebody," and was able to restore the videos from backup sources.
In July 2008, the Roxbury News office was burglarized, with thousands of dollars in audio visual equipment missing, including three 40-inch monitors, and two high-definition Panasonic HDX200 cameras, and other accessories. Because data storage units containing backups of his news videos were not touched, Roxbury did not believe the burglary was politically motivated.