Listening to the radio turns into challenging opportunity
SE student creates website for local radio personality, participates in charity events
by Andrea Clark, reporter

    What would you expect to get paid as the host for Kidd Kraddick’s Kellie Rasberry’s website, raising money for Kidd’s Kidds and working with the organization Begging for Bears?

   How about nothing?

   That’s what Jason Martinez, SE Campus student, receives from these non-profit organizations while working full-time at the SE career and employment center and pursuing an education.

   Martinez wants to pursue a degree in public relations. Currently, he attends TCC with about three years left.

   After he finishes his coursework at TCC, his plans include working with the community, transferring to the University of North Texas and continuing with the website.

   “I like doing it, she (Rasberry) is a really nice person. We help out a lot of people. It gives me experience for what I will do later,” he said.

   So far Martinez has enjoyed the people he works with and his involvement in helping the community and those less fortunate.

   Martinez first heard about the website through a contest to develop a fan website.

   While listening to the Kidd Kraddick show, he became intrigued with the possibility of working on a website for one of his favorite local personalities.

   It turned out that a young girl won the contest, but Martinez decided to buy the website, www.kellie-rasberry.com.

   “I have always been a fan of the show. We (Martinez and Rasberry) have the same views on a lot of things,” he said.

   Martinez had wanted to learn more about web development and thought what better way.

   The website kellie-rasberry.com is non-profit. Martinez does not get paid for working on it, but Rasberry does reimburse him for anything he has to spend for the website.

   Even though he does not get paid, Martinez says he does get benefits working with Rasberry. For instance, he usually receives tickets for events that Kiss FM sponsors, such as Kiss concert tickets.

   Martinez works on the website in his spare time. Conferring with Rasberry on website content, he updates the site once a day, which takes one to two hours, and talks to Rasberry up to three or four times a day about any new information.

   However, they do not talk strictly about the website. They also talk about school, work, what has been going on with each other.

   Through their work, the two have become friends. Rasberry has invited Martinez to her birthday party, which has been talked about on the show.

   Martinez says TCC has contributed to his work on the website. One subject that he credits for tremendous help has been English.

   In his work, Martinez must word things correctly and use correct punctuation in order for it to be successful.

   His web development classes have also made an impact and helped him to better the website, Martinez said.

   Even though the site is not moderated, profanity is cut out. Martinez does have to watch what he puts on the website. He has to make sure he does not use copyrighted materials and all the information is correctly posted, such as concert dates, times and places.

   So far 28,652 people have visited the website. The counter has only been up for three months, even though the site has been up for nine months.

   Needless to say, Martinez believes the turnout has been successful.

   Martinez has experienced one problem as host of kellie-rasberry.com. Listeners of Kidd Kraddick’s show e-mail him complaining about something said on the show or with questions involving Kiss FM.

   Martinez does not work for Kiss FM or for Kraddick’s show. He bought the website from Rasberry to learn more about web development and works only with her, not for her.

   Even though all these people are questioning the wrong person, Martinez tries to reply to each e-mail, giving any information he can.

   Martinez says Rasberry is very involved when it comes to writing her listeners back.

   “She tries to respond to each of her e-mails,” he said.

   They both get a large sum of e-mail and try to respond as promptly as they can.

   Another concern is the number of people and/or companies asking if he will post advertisements for their companies.

   “It’s not really a problem,” Martinez said, “It’s just the demand is so high, we end up turning down a lot of people.

   Currently, the web features a dog of the week for the Humane Society. Other things that might be posted in the future include an ad for Smoothie King.

   The site features a variety of material. It has information about concerts the Kidd Kraddick show has talked about, pictures of Rasberry and her boyfriend, a picture of Martinez and Rasberry, other personal bits and topics the show has aired.

   If he can find a link to something Kraddick has talked about on the show, Martinez tries to put it up for people to view. The website is not strictly about the show. He and Rasberry try to put personal things on line as well.

   Working full-time, going to school and hosting the website do not complete Martinez’s schedule. He also helped raise $3,000 for Kidd’s Kidds, children Kraddick helps each year. He has assisted with fund-raisers and advertised them on the website.

   He has also helped with an organization in Lewisville called Begging for Bears, which sent stuffed bears to New York children affected by the Sept.11 terrorist attacks. Both of these fund-raisers were successful, Martinez said.

   With all these activities, Martinez is not stressed.

   “Working anywhere full-time puts a limit on you,” he said.

   However, Martinez does not feel overwhelmed.

   He looks forward to working on the website and wants to help the community as much as he can, even if this involves a hectic schedule.

   Martinez believes the things he does now will help later on in his degree in public relations.

   Martinez offers advice to anyone interested in a position like his.

   “Your best bet is to use your resources,” he said.

   Martinez suggests starting out on the Internet taking free web-building classes.

   “The Internet has instructions on almost anything,” he said.

   School can help through taking computer and web classes.

   Martinez admits his work on the website has been an enjoyable experience for him so far, and he plans to continue with it.

   Several opportunities have opened up since he started with the website.

   For instance, Barry’s Pizza Pub asked him to help create its website.

   Martinez is also helping with a child development website.

   “Working with the community has opened up contacts for later on in life,” he said.

   Thus, with his volunteer work, Martinez is one step ahead of the competition.