Reality Check (program)

Article summary

Reality Check is a "youth-based, adult mentored" statewide youth program operated by the New York State Department of Health in Albany, New York. Founded in 2001, the goal of the program is to educate "teens about the manipulative marketing practices used by the tobacco industry 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 organizations across the state. 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, particularly in Africa. They are also active across New York, frequently protesting at school board meetings and taking on the movie industry to end smoking in movies marketed to young people. Their work against movie studios and Hollywood has drawn attention to 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, "Reality Check is NOT against smokers.…

Key claims

1. date of foundation: 2001 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of foundation is "2001". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1306786221