OAKLAND, CA--(Marketwire - January 26, 2009) - PR and marketing professionals who want to improve pitching skills and hit rate will discover practical strategies at a new audio conference from Bulldog Reporter's PR University: "Crafting the Perfect Elevator Pitch: How to Place More Stories on the Phone, Via Email and in Person." Attendees will come away with practical insights on how to create a powerful media pitch and compress it into a presentation just a few seconds long.

This exclusive, dial-in PR University audio conference takes place on Thursday, February 5th, at 1PM EST (noon CST, 11AM MST; 10AM PST). The panel includes some of the nation's top journalists and PR experts:

-- Harry Medved, Director, Public Relations, Fandango

-- Tom Gable, Founder, CEO, Gable PR

-- Douglas Simon, President & CEO, D S Simon Productions Inc.

-- Michael Hauge, Hollywood Story Consultant; Author, "Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read"

-- Alyson Dutch, Founder & CEO, Brown + Dutch Public Relations; Author, "PR Handbook for Entrepreneurs"

This 90-minute interactive call will give public relations professionals actionable insights, tips and skills on top pitching faux pas PR people make when phoning or meeting the press, the magic words reporters want to hear in the first few seconds and the key elements of a stellar elevator pitch. It will also address how to best rehearse a pitch and how to avoid "voice mail jail." Here are some of the practical and immediately applicable techniques attendees will cover in this audio conference:

--  The psychology of successful pitches -- what every PR person must know
    about the story sales process to compel coverage over the phone or in
    person
--  What grabs a journalist in the first five seconds of any pitch -- and
    how you should take advantage of it
--  The "Eight R's of Stellar Pitching": How Hollywood's best pitchers
    frame and deliver pitches for million dollar projects -- and how to apply
    their secrets of success to your work
--  The best times to call reporters -- and the time periods to avoid at
    all costs
--  Editorial Hot Buttons: News pegs, future trends, divisive issues,
    dramatic hooks and other sure-fire ways to supercharge your phone, email or
    in-person pitch
--  How to craft a compelling verbal pitch -- and deliver it without
    sounding scripted
    

Attendance at Bulldog Reporter's PR University audio conference costs $299 per telephone site. Participants in the 90-minute call will be able to pose specific questions for the panelists at several junctures during the discussion. Attendees of PR University conferences receive one credit toward PRSA accreditation maintenance. Registration also includes an up-to-the-minute conference manual and a full transcript. For more information on taking part in the event, go to our conference home page or phone toll free: 1-800-959-1059.