VINCENNES, Ind. – Sitting in a radio studio on the Vincennes University campus, two guys are bantering between each other.

They’re discussing their college careers, radio experiences, and many other topics. However, these aren’t your typical radio colleagues.

Dave Foster and Jake Foster are father and son.

Dave graduated from VU with a degree in broadcasting in 1989. Jake is a current VU broadcast major. He will complete his degree in December 2019.

Being back in Davis Hall floods Dave’s mind with memories. He is reminded of his college days and the many years he spent in the building working for 96.7 WFML and Blazer WVUB 91.1.

Dave says to Jake, “I used to do a bluegrass program. I recall you and your sister being in the room just hanging out.”

He adds, “It’s so surreal that I was in this same studio and walking these halls 30 years ago, and now Jake is doing the same thing.”

You’ve most likely heard Dave on the air if you’ve ever listened to radio in Knox, Daviess, and Pike counties. He has been a news anchor and broadcast reporter for more than 30 years. He is currently a news director for DLC Media, Inc. and can be heard most mornings providing news reports on WAMW Classic Hits Memories 107.9 FM and WAMW Four Star Country, the General 95.9-101.3-1580.

Jake is also on the airwaves.

He hosted the Blazer Morning Show on Blazer WVUB 91.1 on weekdays until spring semester ended. On weekends, he hosts Saturday Morning Live on WAMW Classic Hits Memories 107.9 FM, the same station where his dad is on air.

Jake even works with his father.

“He hosts the show, does the weather and does the deejaying,” Dave says. “I’m his news guy.”

Working with your dad presents interesting situations.

“I remember the first time I time I had to introduce him on air,” Jake says. “I didn’t want to refer to him as Dad on air because I didn’t know how weird that would be, so I said, “Here’s Dave Foster with news.”

Dave interjects, “On the air I say, “No. We’re not going to do that. I’m dad from here on out. You are not going to call me Dave.” Jake said, “I’m just trying to be professional.” I said, “I appreciate that, but I’m going to be dad.”

Adds Jake, “So now I introduce him as my dad, Dave Foster.”

Getting a broadcasting degree was not in Jake’s original college plans. He started VU as a law enforcement major. At the end of his first semester, he decided to become a part-time student and accepted a full-time correctional officer job. The plan was to finish his degree online.

“The day before spring classes started, I realized this isn’t what I want to do with my life,” Jake says. “The day after classes started, I went to my advisor and changed to a broadcast major.

“I made the right decision. I probably would have quit school and just worked. Then I wouldn’t have a degree and I’d be doing something I didn’t want to do.”

Unlike Jake, Dave’s career aspirations came to light at a young age.

“When I was a kid, I was always running around with a tape recorder pretending to be a reporter,” he says.

Despite his interest in news and broadcasting, Dave didn’t choose to pursue it as a career until a month before fall classes began in 1987.

“When I decided to go to college, this was the place to come for hands-on experience” he says. “I believe if you want to be a broadcaster, this is still the place to come to learn the craft. If you have the talent – as Jake has shown – they are going to put you where you belong and give you every opportunity to grow.”

Thirty years may separate their days at students, but they share similar thoughts about VU’s broadcasting programs.

“Any broadcasting student here will agree with me that the program is super hands on,” Jake says. “As soon as you set foot in class, you’re already learning how to edit video and audio. Most of our assignments are hands-on projects. In my first class we were already producing (public service announcements). I’ve heard in most broadcast schools, you don’t even touch equipment until your third year.”

Dave is incredibly proud of Jake’s achievements and he enjoys working on air with his son.

“He’s good at what he does,” Dave says. “When he started he thought people were telling him he was good because of his name and I said, “No. You’re doing a great job.”

“I told him, “I love you too much to tell you that you’re good, if you’re not. People have taken notice and they’re telling me that he does a great job and we’re doing a great job together.”

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Vincennes University Newsroom

MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
   812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
   812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, vpuffer@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom