Mission: To give parents, educators, and kids a choice and a voice about the media they consume.

Background:
James Steyer founded Common Sense Media in 2003 to provide trustworthy information about media for families and create a forum for adults and children. Prior to this endeavor, Steyer was chairman and CEO of JP Kids, a family media company, and president of Children Now, a national advocacy and media organization for children that he founded in 1988. A father of four, he wrote The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media's Effect on Our Children. The Common Sense staff, its board of directors, and advisors come from research, academic, and policy institutions, and the business community. The organization does not accept money from media companies, nor does it receive government funding.

Outstanding Web Features:
The focal point of Common Sense Media's Web site is the family-oriented reviews, accessible from the homepage by media type — movies, TV, games, music, Web sites, or books. Within each medium, visitors may search by title/artist/author, category (comedy, drama, fiction, nonfiction, etc.), or age group (2-4 to 17+). In addition, each type includes a recommended list. All listings are rated by age appropriateness and quality. Registered users of the site, who sign up for free, may also weigh in on movies, videos, books, and music. In addition, the site contains the organization's ten guiding principles, information about the media's impact on children, media-management tips for parents, a blog, and a weekly newsletter.