Providence Monthly had a fun idea for its November edition – get a bunch of Rhode Island journalists together to talk shop and discuss where we think the battered media industry is going next.

The roundtable was earlier this month, and it was interesting to hear where all of us agree, disagree and aren’t sure. The group Providence Monthly brought together was Tim White and me (WPRI), Ian Donnis (RIPR), Erika Niedowski (AP), Dan McGowan (GoLocal), Tim Murphy (Projo) and Dave Scharfenberg (Phoenix).

Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here. A sample:

John T: We have seven reporters seated at the table and only one representing a print daily, which is quite a change from if we had had this conversation ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. What is the changing nature of this profession as the era of the traditional beat reporter gives way to this new media landscape? What does the beat reporter of the future look like? Who does the next generation’s Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein work for?

Ted N: I think it’s interesting, because we’re at a time where you can jump in in different ways. My job was just an experiment by Channel 12. They never would have had a writer when it was just a TV station; there was nowhere to put the writing. Now everyone has a website. Erika’s stuff used to be primarily available inside a newsroom until it got into a paper. Now the AP has a mobile site. I don’t like to make predictions anymore – not that I ever did and I haven’t been in it that long – but I never predict where it’s all going. I think a lot of it is just trying to keep an eye on where things are moving and sort of get there along with the readers – not wait until you realize that people have migrated, and then you’re left behind. You’re not in the place where people want to be. But hopefully the standards can remain the same.