July Newsletter
Sawasdee kha from Thailand!
I’ve been back home in Chiang Mai for about a week after
spending a few weeks in Southern Africa. More on that below! I now have about two weeks at home before I set off on my next press trip back to a beloved destination.
Thank you for subscribing to my monthly newsletter that highlights my recently published articles, upcoming calls for sources, and a peek into my travels. If you’d like to support my work, tips are appreciated via Venmo and PayPal. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the paid version of this newsletter for $9.99 a month. If you’d like, buy me a tea here as a token of appreciation.
WORK WITH ME
I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring a unique set of skills to the media industry having worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and 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
I’m also available for paid social media campaigns. I have a community of 21,000 followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook who are interested in travel, sustainability, veganism, women’s health, cannabis, and other industries.
MONTHLY STATS
In July I wrote 10 articles (about 4,700 words). Five were commissioned pitches and five were assignments. I sent 52 pitches this month—six were commissioned, five are being considered, 11 were rejected (or I moved on because I placed the story elsewhere or the story was no longer timely), and 30 are pending a response. I’ve officially sent over 460 pitches in 2024.
My Business Insider article on why after visiting 90 countries, Chiang Mai is the place I come back to time and time again, was picked up by The Daily Mail and El Pais Uruguay. I also was quoted in an AFAR article about my advice for Americans living abroad.
NEW ARTICLES
My portfolio can be viewed any time at LolaAnnMendez.com. In July, I had six articles published, including my debut in The Guardian and Your World Magazine. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications including Health.com, Scuba Diving Magazine, The Good Times, and Oceania Cruises Magazine.
These are my pieces that were published this month. Each image is clickable so you can read the story.
CALLS FOR PITCHES & PR 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. At this moment I’m not working on any pieces for which I need support from PR reps or expert sources.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOLA?
I spent half of July here in Chiang Mai, Thailand and the other half getting to know Southern Africa. It was my first time in that region of Africa and I had a phenomenal time in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana. I swam in the world’s most dangerous natural infinity swimming pool, Devil’s Pool in Victoria Falls, and got very close to white rhinos in Zimbabwe. I also fell in love with South African’s wine grape — Pinotage!
In two weeks I’m going back to Indonesia for the first time since 2019. I have about a week on my own in Ubud where I plan to go for rice terrace walks, do yoga, and eat jamu and tempeh daily. Then for work I’ll be experiencing some luxury resorts focused on wellness.
I’m very open to press trips in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific in the coming months. I'm especially keen to visit and write about New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman, Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and more!