‘Reality Check’
Tune in to Region 2B’s hit TV show for news you can use
In today’s cluttered world of news, where myths prevail and facts are often used to distract America’s working families from real issues such as rising health care costs, the union voice is gaining volume.
UAW Region 2B’s public affairs TV show “Reality Check,” originally broadcast on local cable access channels across the Ohio region, is moving up in the world. Since April 2005 it has held a coveted spot on network affiliates potentially reaching 8 million homes.
So what makes this show stand out from the sea of talking heads? “Reality Check” has something for everyone.
“We talk about issues that are important to working families as a whole, whether it’s fair trade or funds being cut at the local high school,” said Lloyd Mahaffey, Region 2B director. “We want to offer information the audience can’t get anywhere else.”
The concept grew out of the need to set the record straight on a range of issues and to dispel misconceptions on the issues affecting working Americans, both on and off the job.
“Reality Check” just wrapped up its second season, and the Region 2B team is looking ahead to this fall with fresh ideas. Some of last season’s topics included alternative energy and renewable energy sources, Social Security and organizing.
“We want to pepper the airwaves, and we are now in a position to do just that,” said Mahaffey.
The show, described as provocative and entertaining, has challenged right-wing rhetoric. For instance, to counter unfounded reports that unions hinder progress on advanced-technology vehicles, the reality is the UAW supports new technology to improve fuel economy and build more efficient vehicles. In fact, UAW members are building some of the most fuel-efficient products on America’s roads today.
The Ford Escape hybrid, equipped with a gasoline-electric powertrain, is built by UAW Local 249 members at the Kansas City (Mo.) Assembly plant; UAW Local 2209 members build the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, the first full-sized hybrid pickups, at General Motors’ Fort Wayne (Ind.) Assembly plant; and the Jeep Liberty diesel is built at DaimlerChrysler’s Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly plant by members of UAW Local 12.
Open dialogue has been a key to the show’s success, and sharing ideas and information with the public will remain a priority for the show’s future.
“This is not just UAW-focused; this is for everyone,” said Mahaffey. “An HR (human resources) director from a nonunion shop called and told us how ecstatic she was with our show’s format. She loved the diversity. In addition, she asked to use our entire health and safety series to train workers at her facility.”
Charles Spencer, a DaimlerChrysler veteran with 34 years’ seniority at the Twinsburg (Ohio) Stamping plant, would love to see the show in prime time.
Whether in the community or on the plant floor, the UAW Local 122 vice president has noticed something: “Reality Check” is generating a buzz.
“I think it’s an excellent show for people not familiar with unions. It’s giving people a more well-rounded opinion of the union because they can see that we all have the same issues,” said Spencer. “It’s really starting to catch people’s interest.”
Organizing took center stage more than once this season, and Mahaffey has even encouraged Toledo-area members to visit two unionized hospitals, St. Vincent, where nurses, support staff and technical workers belong to UAW Local 12; and the Medical College of Ohio, which is organized by AFSCME.
“It’s the human aspect of our organizing efforts that the rest of the public needs to know about. We know it because we are in the trenches day in and day out,” said Mahaffey. “There is a hostile, unfair environment being bred at the upstart of our organizing campaigns, and until we teach the workers about their rights and teach the public about what’s fair, we are just spinning our wheels.”
Spencer believes the message is reaching the general public. As a UAW Community Action Program council trustee, he works with public officials, community organizers and other trade unionists to tackle various issues including single-payer universal health care and Social Security.
“Reality Check” has tried to tackle some of these domino-effect issues one by one, allowing viewers to draw the connection.
“Understanding that our issues and our battles are tied together is the only way we can defeat the Bush administration’s anti-worker policy and legislation,” said Mahaffey.
If you missed this season, be sure to check out clips of the show at www.uaw.org. Viewers can send requests or comments to realitycheck@uaw.org.
