The Communications Department was responsible for NAM’s portrayal in the public sphere. The series is divided into fifteen subseries: Articles, Business Line, Communications Council, Letters to the editor, Mailings, Meetings, NAM in the News, News Watch, Op-ed, Press events, Press releases, Speeches, Statements and testimony, Subject files, and Transcripts.

The Articles subseries includes articles from journals, magazines, or newspapers that were written by NAM staff or highlight NAM members. Materials date from 1985 to 1997.

Business Line was a short, automated information blast — approximately five minutes — that focused on a current issue important to NAM members, such as legislation being considered on Capitol Hill. This subseries includes the transcripts of the audio messages that would be sent to members.

The Communications Council changed its name from the Public Relations Council by 1996. Both incarnations focused on providing communications counsel to NAM leadership and actively supporting the association’s communication goals. Membership was comprised of up to thirty senior public relations executives who were responsible for the corporate communications function at NAM member companies. The Council met quarterly — with one of its meetings held in conjunction with NAM’s Public Affairs Conference — to provide communications guidance, networking with peers, and exchange views on a broad range of topics with guest media and communications experts. Council membership was by invitation only and determined by Council election.

The Letters to the editor subseries is comprised of letters written by staff to newspapers from across the United States. The files may contain the letter written to a newspaper editor, the printed letter, or both. The letters cover a wide variety of topics including plant closures, health care, product... liability, sexual harassment in the workplace, balanced budget, environment protections, Social Security, and the free market. Materials date from 1986 to 2004.

The Mailings subseries includes packets of information sent to NAM members or media outlets. This might include information about a new publication, upcoming film, or current projects by NAM.

The Meetings subseries focuses on press coverage at various NAM-organized meetings. The materials range from 1987 to 1997. NAM in the News, which changed its name to become News Watch, was a compilation of news articles and press clippings that mentioned the organization and the work it was doing. They were compiled into a packet which could then be sent to members or other interested parties.

The Op-ed subseries is comprised of op-eds written by NAM staff to newspapers across the United States. This subseries also includes reports on the success rate of various op-ed pieces. Periodically, op-eds would run in multiple newspapers; each printing retains its own file in the subseries. Dates range from 1983 to 2004 and include topics such as product liability, Social Security, employee benefits, taxes, and technology.

The Press events subseries incorporates several types of events held for the press including press conferences, breakfasts, briefings, and roundtables. Materials date from 1987 to 2005. Press releases were issued by NAM nearly every day. This subseries includes releases covering a wide variety of topics and reflect timely issues. Some of the topics include outlook on the economy, members named to the Board of Directors, environmental regulations, taxes, new staff hires, position on various bills, and health care.

The Speeches subseries includes transcripts and relevant material relating to speeches given by NAM staff or Board members across the United States. Topics include manufacturing in the United States, acceptance remarks, and retirement, among others. The material is arranged chronologically.

The Statements and testimony subseries includes transcripts from NAM members speaking before Congress or other government agencies. The material is arranged chronologically.

Subject files include newspaper and magazine clippings, as well as articles printed from the internet; they are arranged by topic. Topics include the economy, health care, manufacturing, Social Security, taxes, and trade.

The Transcripts subseries contains printed transcripts from meetings, speeches, television programs, and press conferences.