Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Dave White is a veteran Indiana broadcaster whose career spans both radio and television. He has worked at stations including WIFN, WIFE, WATI, WNTS, WFMS, WXIR, and WBRI, and spent nearly three decades at WISH-TV producing and hosting public affairs programming. He is known for his long-running roles on Religion in the News, the morning show on 98.3 FM (as Jay Carpenter), and Power Source on MeTV. White has conducted more than 1,500 interviews, produced biographical documentaries, and held leadership positions in both media and nonprofit sectors. He served as president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers and co-founded DreamVision Media Partners with his son, Josh. In recognition of his decades of service, White was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. 

Early Life and Career Beginnings 

Dave White was born in Indianapolis and raised in Morgan County, Indiana. He attended Mooresville High School, where he participated in the school’s advanced video and radio programs, including a student-produced segment on Plainfield's 98.3 FM. He continued his education at Franklin College, studying English literature and journalism, and gained practical broadcasting experience at WFCI, Franklin College’s station, and a local commercial station in Franklin. After college, he pursued graduate studies in rehabilitation administration at Southern Illinois University and later became certified in the field through Indiana University. 

Broadcasting and Rehabilitation Work 

White began his professional radio career with roles at stations including WIFN and WIFE. In the 1980s, he stepped away from broadcasting to work at Gateway, a nonprofit rehabilitation agency, where he eventually served as executive director. While at Gateway, he continued part-time media work, producing public affairs programming for WAFB radio and WISH-TV. He later returned to broadcasting full-time, taking positions at WFMS, WXIR, and WBRI. 

He spent 20 years at 98.3 FM, serving as program director and operations manager, while co-hosting the morning show under the name Jay Carpenter. He also hosted Religion in the News on WISH-TV for nearly 30 years and co-produced Power Source on MeTV for a decade. 

Community Engagement and Media Leadership 

White focused much of his work on local and community issues. Over his career, he conducted more than 1,500 interviews with civic leaders, nonprofit representatives, and elected officials. He also reported internationally from China, Thailand, Israel, Haiti, and parts of the former Soviet Union. In 1993, he received a commendation from Governor Evan Bayh for public service and his contributions to the state. 

In 2002, White and his son, Josh, founded DreamVision Media Partners, a production company dedicated to creating content for nonprofit organizations and community causes. Together, they produced more than 150 video tributes and biographical documentaries. 

As president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers, White helped expand the organization’s focus on diversity and mission-driven work. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a model of service and stability for the local media community. 

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Written by Isabella Schmeelk, edited by Katherine Maners

August 2025

Bibliography 

Dave White’s Video Bio  

https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/users/auth/lti/callback?target_id=5m60rj12x

Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Newsletter  

https://indianabroadcastpioneers.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/February-2018-Newsletter.pdf

https://dreamvisionmediapartners.com