April 2024 Newsletter
Marhaba from Dubai!
I’m back in the Gulf Tiger on a press trip — it’s my first time visiting since 2017 and I’ve been fortunate enough to have bucket list experiences like enjoying a glass of French red wine from the 154th floor of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. More on my travels below!
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WORK WITH ME
I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring a unique set of skills to the media industry as I worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and have worked as a freelance journalist for eight years. I have a deep understanding of the inner workings of relationships between PR/brands and writers/publications.
Consultations for brands and publicists include insights on best practices for pitching journalists, how to foster relationships with journalists, media training, and more. I’m also available for hire to pen marketing materials such as press releases, media alerts, website copywriting, blog and social media content, and more.
For writers, my consultations include workshopping pitches and for writers to pick my brain about the industry. Writers who book consultations are added to my exclusive Facebook group where I share editors' calls for pitches and provide access to an editorial database of over 3,000 editor contacts. Learn more here: LolaAnnMendez.com/Consultation
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MONTHLY STATS
April was year to-date my worst month work-wise. I wrote two articles (about 1,400 words) and I didn’t even earn $1,000. Both were commissioned pitches. I sent 73 pitches this month—four were commissioned, six being considered, 13 were rejected, one I placed elsewhere, and 49 are pending a response.
NEW ARTICLES
My portfolio can be viewed at any time at LolaAnnMendez.com. In April, I had five articles published. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications including Oceania Cruises Magazine and Backpacker Magazine.
These are my pieces that were published this month. Each image is clickable so you are able to read the story.
CALLS FOR PR PITCHES & SOURCES
I always post my calls for sources on Twitter.com/LolaAnnaMendez. Newsletter subscribers are privy to the first look at my current work. PR folks (and individuals, when relevant) are welcome to send pitches for the stories on which I’m currently working. I’m open to PR pitches and suggestions on these topics:
Unconventional Underground Experiences Unique to Missouri
Hood River, Oregon Outdoor Adventure Travel Guide
Young Latinx Voters
Unregistered Latino Voters
Disability Pride
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOLA?
April took me to my 88th country — Bhutan (and May will take me to my 89th!). It was so meaningful to finally get the chance to trek to Tiger’ s Nest. It was a beast at over 10,000 feet but I felt a great sense of accomplishment that my asthma didn’t prevent me from reaching this goal. I also got to eat loads of one of my favorite rare-to-find veggies — fern! In between trips abroad I spent time in Bangkok and Koh Samui. When I get back to Thailand in a few weeks I’m moving into an apartment in Chiang Mai (and will finally be able to accept PR packages again!).
Last week I was back in The Maldives, this time with the St. Regis for a trip focused on wellness which was wonderful. If you saw my IG stories then you know just how gorgeous it was. I’m now in Dubai with NH Collection and am having a blast on my second trip to the UAE.
May is going to be a busy month! Before moving into my apartment in Chiang Mai I’m taking myself to El Nido for a week which will be my first time in The Philippines. Then I’m off on a press trip with Hilton to Rome and Sardinia. Afterwards I have some time before another press trip in Europe so I’m going to finally visit Tunisia. Finally, at the end of May I’ll be visiting Crete for the first time on a press trip.
I’m very open to press trips in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific in the coming months and am especially keen to visit and write about New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman, Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and more!