Reality Check is a "youth-based, adult mentored" statewide

youth program Youth programs are particular activities designed to involve people between the ages of 10 and 25. Activities included are generally oriented towards youth development through recreation, social life, prevention, intervention, or education. Durin ...

operated by the

New York State Department of Health The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is the department of the New York state government responsible for public health. It is headed by Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, who was appointed by Governor Hochul and confirmed by the Se ...

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York Ci ...

. Founded in 2001, the goal of the program is to educate "teens about the manipulative marketing practices used by the

tobacco industry The tobacco industry comprises those persons and companies who are engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products. It is a global industry; tobacco can grow in any ...

to get teens to smoke." Thousands of youth across New York have participated in Reality Check activities, which operate in partnership with more than a dozen

youth organization The following is a list of youth organizations. A youth organization is a type of organization with a focus upon providing activities and socialization for minors. In this list, most organizations are international unless noted otherwise. 0 ...

s across the state. Reality Check has been involved in combating depictions of smoking in movies,

point of purchase The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place at which a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant calculates the amount owed by the customer, indicates that amount, may prepare an invoice f ...

advertisements, and tobacco

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

found in the school setting. They have also participated in global campaigns against tobacco usage, particularly in Africa. They are also active across

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, frequently protesting at

school board A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional ar ...

meetings and taking on the

movie industry The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post ...

to end smoking in movies marketed to young people. Their work against

movie studio A film studio (also known as movie studio or simply studio) is a major entertainment company or motion picture company that has its own privately owned studio facility or facilities that are used to make films, which is handled by the production ...

s and Hollywood has drawn attention as for them as the "largest group to confront Hollywood" on tobacco usage in children's movies. The program receives funding primarily from the state Department of Health. According to

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to ...

, "Reality Check is NOT against smokers. It is about getting people to understand how tobacco companies manipulate people into smoking and getting hooked.""Reality Check"
Cornell University Cooperative Extension Wyoming County. Retrieved 12/17/07. As of 31 July 2009, the number of Reality Check grants that the New York State Department of Health has been decreased from 46 to 10. As a result of this Monroe, Livingston, Steuben, Chemung, Schuyker, Tompkins, Yates, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Cortland, Chenango, Otsego, Delaware, Greene, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, and Washington County are left with no funding for any type of program similar to Reality Checks. Many other counties have exponential decreases in their funding.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reality Check (Organization) Smoking in the United States New York State Department of Health Youth-led organizations Organizations established in 2001 Boycott organizers Lobbying organizations in the United States

See also

References

External links