May 24, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Four years ago this week, in the article “A New Attempt to Monitor Media Content,” The New York Times announced the formation of a new group that had set out to give parents detailed, nonpartisan information about the enormous amount of media in their kids’ lives.

In just four years, Common Sense Media has grown by leaps and bounds and now occupies the space as the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing parents with the tools and information they need to make the right media choices for their families. With independent reviews of movies, TV shows, video games, music, books, and Web sites -- as well as tips to help parents understand new media trends -- Common Sense Media’s site, www.commonsense.com, has become a one-stop resource for today’s busy parents.

“It’s a startling fact, but it’s a reality for today’s parents: Kids spend more than twice as much time with the media than they do with their moms and dads,” said Common Sense Media CEO and founder James Steyer. “From the outset, we recognized that today’s parents are really busy and need quick help to sort through the immense amount of media in their kids’ lives, from television and movies to iPods and MySpace. That’s what Common Sense is here for.”

Common Sense board member Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the Sesame Workshop, said the organization has already had an impact on the media landscape.

“In four short years, Common Sense Media has made a huge impact in empowering parents by giving them the beginning tools to navigate through the bombardment of media their kids receive every day,” Knell said. “Its impact will only grow in the future as its content and delivery footprints expand.”

Since its inception in May 2003, Common Sense has built a library of more than 6,000 media reviews and continues to add an average of 35 new reviews each week. And through distribution partnerships with some of the nation’s leading media companies, Common Sense’s reviews and parent tips are available to literally tens of millions of American parents. Those partnerships include:

• Three of the four largest cable operators in the United States: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications
• Three of the largest Web portals: Google, America Online, and MSN
• The leading media retailer in the country: Best Buy
• Two of the fastest-growing new media distribution brands: Netflix and Tivo

“Our goal has always been to give parents the information they need, where and when they need it to make the right media choices specifically for their families,” said Common Sense Media Chief Operating Officer Susan Sachs. “With our business partners, we're able to reach parents countrywide at the point of decision with detailed, nonpartisan information about media and entertainment for kids. We’re proud of the immense progress we’ve made in the past four years – and we’re looking forward to building on that progress for years to come.”

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the media lives of children and families. Launched in 2003, Common Sense Media has become the nation’s leading organization of its kind, helping millions of parents, educators, and young people make better decisions about the media and entertainment in their lives. For more information, tips, and media reviews, visit www.commonsense.com.