Every day in America, millions of television viewers are bombarded by their class enemy, right in the comfort of their own home. Television is the prime source of news information for the majority of Americans. And what do we get? We asked Noel Rabinowitz, director of Changing America, a new television show dedicated to working people, what he thinks. "Face it," says Noel, "Most TV is mental junk food. It's fun to vegetate, but what are you left with? Wanting to buy expensive stuff, or just watch more TV. Watching TV, you'd never know millions of people are getting exploited every day and that they are fighting back."
In the battle of ideas, television is the great weapon, held solely in the corporate grip. "The rich and famous get plenty of play," explains Noel, "but if real life working people, poor people and people of color are shown, they are usually getting arrested or killed or dragged through the mud like on Jerry Springer. Shows on politics are mostly boring and rightwing."
That is, until now! On April 1st 1999, 'Changing America' shook up TV land, and things will never be the same. Changing America is a weekly news magazine show that covers politics, culture and everything in between from the slant of an anti-corporate, pro-working class, pro-multi-racial unity point of view. The show features interviews with nationally and internationally known personalities, leaders of organized labor and people's movements. Now in its 14th episode, Changing America is seen by many as a chance for working people and community groups and unions to tell the truth on television. The truth that applies to most people, the struggle to get by and make this country a better place.
The Changing America premier featured an interview with Ron Daniels, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, addressing the issue of police brutality. There were 'on the street' interviews from the daily protests in front of NYC Police Headquarters in response to the police murder of Amadou Diallo. Another episode covered the Cuban national baseball team's historic game against the Baltimore Orioles. A number of episodes have focused on the issue of sweatshops and child labor. And recently, much coverage has been devoted to the important strike for justice by the steelworkers of Local 8888 against the Newport News Shipyard.
A big part of Changing America is defending and improving public education. A regular segment of the show called "Classroom" has covered teachers who really care and special programs that teach very students about worker's rights. A first grade class at the Manhattan New School did an art show and a play about child labor and sweatshops. It was a very unusual, but inspiring example of how young students really care about injustice like child labor. Programming like this on Changing America can be really useful in building campaigns and building the YCL.
Changing America is unique because it is produced by a staff of volunteers who are labor and community activists, and youth and students. Among the many people involved, members of the Young Communist League have contributed their share as well. It takes a lot of work to get the show on the air every week, and Changing America volunteers learn on the job. Shane McEvoy, a YCL member from Queens, NY calls himself one of the many "worker ants" in the production staff of Changing America. When asked what he did today, he said, "I learned how to pull wire. I knew nothing about wiring and electrical stuff, and it was good working and learning from a fellow volunteer." Mike Tyner is another YCL member who volunteers for the show. In addition to helping out with production behind the scenes, Mike recently became an on-air personality when he began doing a regular music review segment from Times Square. Tito Irizarry, a YCL member from Philadelphia, has been a Changing America production volunteer from the beginning of the project. "When I went to the first Changing America training seminar, a shiver went down my spine," recalls Tito, "I got a funny feeling I was seeing history. You know, the start of something really important for the people. That's why I'm really excited to be working on the show."
One of the coolest things about Changing America is that it seeks out stories from the front lines of local struggles. Whether it's a shipyard strike in Newport News, civil disobedience against police brutality, the May Day Rally in Oakland, or on the campaign trail with school board candidates fighting to save public education in the Bronx -- if the Changing America staff can't be there, they'll send the camera to a local correspondent! And anyone can become a local correspondent by attending a weekend training seminar at the studio in New York. You'll learn how to use the camera, how to interview people, how to log tape and make a paper edit. That way, when something big happens in your town, you can get it on tape and send it in to Changing America.
Changing America is broadcast on public access cable channels around the country. Check the People's Weekly World for listings for your area. If it is not yet broadcast in your area you can help with that too! Just call Changing America at 212-924-9046 and they will tell you how.
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