Portfolio managers from seven mutual funds gathered Monday to tout their wares to an eagerly waiting crowd of journalists. The funds represented are ll "Lipper Leaders", having been rated in the top 20 percent for both "Consistent Return" and "Total Return" by mutual fund research firm Lipper.

Of course, half of the 15 or 20-odd members of the press in attendance were affiliated with Reuters, the parent of Lipper, and the namesake (and presumably owner) of the building where the press briefing, organized by mutual fund public relations firm SunStar, was held. And MFWire.com has it on good authority that the gorgeous view from the Carnegie Room, the canvas tote bag and the free food, especially the cut strawberries, may have helped lure the remaining reporters.

Fund managers from Allianz RCM, Eaton Vance, Tributary Capital Management, Franklin Templeton, Permanent Portfolio, Putnam and Schwab each discussed their views on current and upcoming trends in the economy, dispensed investment advice - varying from "Buy large and mega cap now!", to "Small caps all the way!", to "Go gold" - and named stocks they like. An analyst from Reuters Estimates also provided a general market outlook.

After the presentations, the portfolio managers fielded questions on corporate governance (specifically, whether or not any of the funds have voted against companies' management's board nominations), Citigroup (should it be broken up), and large cap pharmaceuticals (value or growth?). And after formal Q&A finished, reporters flocked to the various managers to introduce themselves and ask their questions, staying well after the official 11:30am end time.

In the classic trade, reporters got "insight" and access (and brunch), and fund managers got exposure, all thanks to SunStar. 

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