Student-run Political Website Traffic Increases 40% each month

Hear the Issues, administrated by University of Massachusetts-Amherst student David Pakman, has gained significant notoriety since it's inception 6 months ago. Election-related content combined with controversial original features have contributed to a 40% monthly increase in visitors, as well as quotes and references to the website appearing on hundreds of political websites worldwide.

(PRWEB) November 20, 2004 -- Hear the Issues, a political website started by University of Massachusetts - Amherst student David Pakman, has spread across the internet like wildfire through a forest. Offering election and poll tracking since it's beginnings in May of this year, controversial original content have contributed to the popularity and notoriety of the website among political websites across the internet.
    
The first feature which captured a significant audience was "The Politics of Geography," which associated general state-by-state trends, including fast-food consumption, concentration of Wal-mart stores, beer consumption, and more, to the distribution of Democrats and Republicans across the country. Even more popular is "The Intelligence/IQ Factor," a fact-based piece on the recently popular discussion about the intelligence of the blue and red states. There are about 25 such features on the website, with new content every week.
    
Pakman has been quoted on many political websites, personal weblogs or "blogs," and among the message board community, before, throughout, and increasingly more after the recent presidential election. Individual replies to any and all emails, be they questions, compliments, or the ever-commong hate mail, have created a loyal base of visitors, often emailing the editor with comments on every new feature released.
    
Pakman indicates that the future of the website "will depend on what my visitors want, and what happens in the world." David Pakman is a communications and economics major at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. He can be reached at david.pakman@thevividedge.com

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