Correct! Marketing reports generally serve two purposes: to cast the company in a good light, and to show that the company is aware of industry trends. Although the data can be informative, use care in quoting these statistics, and be sure to always source them to the company that provides them.

Correct!

Correct! Broad economic measurements have a direct impact on manufacturing. For example, the automobile industry closely tracks what happens with employment, consumer confidence, and housing, since a car is the second-biggest purchase consumers can make, after a home.

Correct! Factories exist throughout the country in small and large cities alike. In fact, some areas are so dominated by their manufacturers that they become company towns – a place where practically all stores and housing are owned by a single company that is also the main employer.

Correct! All of these can help you learn more and follow the money while covering the manufacturing beat.

Correct! Finding people to interview at a factory without a union can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you give up. Search social media sites for people in your area that have the company in their profiles. Ask your friends and professional contacts whom they know. Then try the old-fashioned way: go to the bar, coffee shop, or cafe near the factory and have plenty of business cards handy.

Correct! While NAM is understandably pro-manufacturing, it’s worth checking out the data on its site.

Correct! Manufacturing is a beat where the inner circle may not speak to you, and you have to rely on outlying sources, so when in doubt about the validity of the information, err on the side of caution until you have an additional source or more information to go on.

Correct! Just because someone is quoted frequently does not mean they are a true expert – they may just be one of the easiest people to talk to. Do your part to find the real experts.

Correct! These are all good ways to get your foot in the door and connect with factory workers.