As Common Sense Media's Senior TV Editor, Polly is responsible for championing the latest and greatest in TV for kids and families. She also heads up the site's YouTube channel reviews, a recent addition to the CSM library of content. An expert in the realm of shows that are created for (and/or appeal to -- not always the same thing!) kids, tweens, and teens, Polly's particular focus is on educational television for young kids. As an enthusiastic advocate for positive representation of girls and women in media, she also has her finger on the pulse of pop culture and speaks to the press regularly about the good and bad of kids' TV (recent highlights include a chat with the legendary Weird Al!). She's discussed kid topics for Time, Techonomics, and Kidmap's Diversity Sauce podcast, and her written work has appeared on CNN, Salon, Washington Post, and more. 

Before coming to Common Sense, Polly spent time developing her own writing career and served as an educator in Oakland's diverse schools. Both helped her discover a deep desire to give kids the best possible media experiences. Additionally, her BA in Acting from San Francisco State and MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts have given her a unique understanding of how great media is created, and she's always happy to discuss any episode of her #1 whole-family TV pick, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Featured in: Zero to Eight: The when, where and how of kids' media habits