Reality Check (organization)

Reality Check is a "youth-based, adult mentored" [ [http://www.tricountycessation.org/contactus.html "Contact Us",] Tri-County Cessation Center. Retrieved 12/17/07. "Note: Look under "Reality Check"."] statewide youth program operated by the New York State Department of Health in Albany, New York. [ [http://www.realitycheckny.org/RCNY/RC_links/terms.htm "Terms and conditions"] , Reality Check website. Retrieved 12/16/07.] Founded in 2001 [ [http://www.realitycheckny.org/RCNY/RC_links/RC_History.htm "Reality Check History"] , Reality Check website. Retrieved 12/16/07.] , the goal of the program is to educate "teens about the manipulative marketing practices used by the tobacco industry to get teens to smoke." [(2003) [http://www.takingontobacco.org/event/nyc0302/pressrelease.html "Local Reality Check teens protest the use of NYC images in international tobacco advertisements"] , Takingontobacco.org. Retrieved 12/17/07.] Thousands of youth across New York have participated in Reality Check activities [(2003) [http://rensselaer-county.com/reality/press/article4.htm "Thousands Of New York Youth Launch A Project That Highlights The Elusive Relationship Between Tobacco And Hollywood"] , Rennaslauer County Reality Check. Retrieved 12/17/07.] , which operate in partnership with more than a dozen youth organizations across the state. [ [http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/tobacco_control/community_partners/reality_check_youth_action_partners.htm "Reality Check Youth Action Partners"] , New York State Department of Health. Retrieved 12/17/07.]

Reality Check has been involved in combating depictions of smoking in movies, point of purchase advertisements, and tobacco advertising found in the school setting. They have also participated in global campaigns against tobacco usage [2002. [http://ncth.confex.com/ncth/2002/techprogram/paper_4569.htm "Going Global: Statewide Youth Programs Take on Big Tobacco at Home and Abroad"] . Retrieved 12/16/07.] , particularly in Africa. [ [http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/gptc/2004q2/000128.html "Youth march calls on Nigeria to sign and ratify the FCTC,"] Part II: Shaking things up in Nigeria. Retrieved 12/17/07.] They are also active across New York, frequently protesting at school board meetings [Hall, T. (2007) [http://www.oneidadispatch.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19021954&BRD=1709&PAG=461&dept_id=68844&rfi=6 "OHS students tell board about anti-tobacco battle"] , "Oneida Daily Dispatch." 11/14/2007.] and taking on the movie industry to end smoking in movies marketed to young people. [ [http://rensselaer-county.com/reality/press/article4.htm "Thousands Of New York Youth Launch A Project That Highlights The Elusive Relationship Between Tobacco And Hollywood"] , Rennaslauer County Reality Check. Retrieved 12/17/07.] Their work against movie studios and Hollywood has drawn attention as for them as the "largest group to confront Hollywood" on tobacco usage in children's movies. [ [http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-2804850/New-York-s-Reality-Check.html "New York's Reality Check Movement Becomes Largest Group to Confront Hollywood on Its Irresponsible Use of Tobacco Products in Films; Youth Wrap Up a Statewide Project Designed to Expose Irresponsible Tobacco Use by Celebrities and Hollywood Executives in Teen-Oriented Movies."] Retrieved 12/17/07.]

The program receives funding primarily from the state Department of Health. [(2003) [http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2002/youth_empowerment.htm "State Awards Additional $553,400 to Youth Empowerment Programs"] , New York State Department of Health. Retrieved 12/17/07.] According to Cornell University, "Reality Check is NOT against smokers. It is about getting people to understand how tobacco companies manipulate people into smoking and getting hooked." [ [http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/wyoming/family/reality_check/ "Reality Check",] Cornell University Cooperative Extension Wyoming County. Retrieved 12/17/07.]

ee also

* Youth voice
* Youth empowerment
* Youth movement

References

External links

* [http://www.realitycheckny.org/RCNY/ Reality Check]