Top Journalists in Manufacturing

Tim Aeppel Reuters

Veteran Reuters correspondent who covers the intersection of economics and companies with an emphasis on U.S. manufacturing; long-time factory-floor reporter known for vivid enterprise features. Specialties: U.S. manufacturing economy, factory labor, tariffs/trade policy, on-the-ground plant reporting

Thomas Black Bloomberg Opinion

Bloomberg Opinion columnist focused on industrial and transportation sectors; former Bloomberg News reporter covering logistics, manufacturing and private aviation. Specialties: Industrials, transportation, aerospace, logistics, factory operations

Claire Bushey Financial Times

Financial Times reporter based in Chicago who leads FT’s coverage of U.S. manufacturing in the Midwest, including Boeing and the Detroit Three. Specialties: U.S. industry and manufacturing, aerospace/airlines, Detroit automakers

Gabrielle Coppola Bloomberg News

Bloomberg News auto-industry reporter covering U.S. carmakers and the manufacturing and labor dynamics shaping Detroit and beyond. Specialties: U.S. auto manufacturing, EVs, labor and supply chain

Dan Davis The Fabricator (FMA Communications)

Editor-in-chief of The Fabricator, a leading U.S. publication for metal fabricating and forming; long-time editor covering fabrication processes and plant leadership. Specialties: Metal fabrication, welding, shop-floor operations, workforce

Brent Donaldson Modern Machine Shop (Gardner Business Media)

Editor-in-chief of Modern Machine Shop; writes and reports extensively on metalworking, shop performance, and manufacturing culture; co-creator of the ‘Made in the USA’ podcast. Specialties: CNC machining, shop operations, U.S. manufacturing profiles, Made in USA

Stephanie Hendrixson Additive Manufacturing Media (Gardner Business Media)

Executive Editor at Additive Manufacturing Media and co-host of The Cool Parts Show; reports on how AM is used for end-use production across industries. Specialties: Additive manufacturing/industrial 3D printing, production AM applications

Austen Hufford The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal reporter whose enterprise features have spotlighted U.S. manufacturers’ supply-chain shifts and ‘Made in America’ production strategies. Specialties: Manufacturing strategy and reshoring, factory investment, industrial labor

John Irwin Automotive News

Automotive News reporter covering suppliers and EVs; tracks how automakers’ sourcing and factory plans affect the broader manufacturing ecosystem. Specialties: Auto suppliers and EV manufacturing, North American production footprint

Phone

Tom Krisher Associated Press

Associated Press auto writer based in Detroit who has covered the industry—and its manufacturing, labor and safety issues—for decades. Specialties: U.S. auto manufacturing, UAW and labor, Detroit automakers

Don Loepp Plastics News (Crain Communications)

Editor of Plastics News and editorial director for Crain’s Global Polymer Group; covers plastics manufacturing trends, policies and the business of processing. Specialties: Plastics manufacturing, materials and processing, sustainability/policy

Keith Naughton Bloomberg News

Bloomberg reporter with deep Detroit beat experience covering factory strategy and the auto sector’s manufacturing footprint. Specialties: Detroit auto manufacturing, workforce/labor, corporate strategy

Nathan Owens Manufacturing Dive (Informa TechTarget)

Manufacturing Dive reporter covering policy and corporate moves that shape U.S. factory activity; writes frequently on tariffs, pricing and workforce impacts. Specialties: Tariffs and industrial policy, capital investment, plant openings/closures

Laura Putre IndustryWeek (Endeavor Business Media)

Senior editor at IndustryWeek known for vivid narratives and deep reporting on manufacturers’ people, processes and plant performance. Specialties: Factory culture and operations, workforce and leadership, industrial history

Robert Schoenberger IndustryWeek (Endeavor Business Media)

Editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek and content lead for Endeavor’s Manufacturing Group; longtime journalist covering automotive and U.S. manufacturing. Specialties: Manufacturing leadership, operations, technology and supply chain

Ryan Secard IndustryWeek (Endeavor Business Media)

IndustryWeek talent and workforce editor focusing on skills gaps, training pathways and people-centered plant performance. Specialties: Manufacturing workforce/talent, skills and training, safety culture

David Shepardson Reuters

Reuters correspondent in Washington covering transportation/auto policy—rules and actions that directly impact U.S. manufacturers and supply chains. Specialties: Transportation and auto policy, federal rules affecting manufacturers

Brooke Sutherland Bloomberg News

Bloomberg’s Boston bureau chief and author of the Industrial Strength newsletter; widely followed voice on U.S. industrials and manufacturing strategy. Specialties: Industrial conglomerates, M&A, capital spending, macro manufacturing trends

Bob Tita The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal reporter covering U.S. manufacturing and industrial companies, with deep reporting on steel, equipment and factory economics. Specialties: Steel and metals, machinery, heavy equipment, tariffs and costs

Peter Zelinski Additive Manufacturing Media / Modern Machine Shop (Gardner Business Media)

Executive editor/director across Gardner’s manufacturing brands; editor-in-chief and founding editor of Additive Manufacturing Media and long-time Modern Machine Shop columnist. Specialties: CNC machining, additive manufacturing, factory automation and software