June 2026 Newsletter

I spent all of June home in Uruguay, but in a few days I’m off to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil — a destination I’ve been lusting after for years. It’ll be my first time on a plane since January, which is wild for me. Being based in Uruguay has made it very difficult to go on press trips. I’m taking my girlfriend there for our anniversary, and we’re looking forward to immersing ourselves in Afro-Brazilian culture, visiting dozens of museums, and spending the afternoon soaking up the sun before returning to the brutal, humid winter in Uruguay. Follow along on Instagram.com/LolaAnnaMendez

I’m sharing public calls for travel pitches on instagram.com/traveljournocfp. The account will always be free, as part of my efforts to tear down gatekeeping in the industry. If you landed an article from an opportunity we posted, we’d love to feature your work on our feed.

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly newsletter, which highlights my recently published articles, upcoming calls for sources, and a peek into my travels. If you’d like to support my work, tips via Zelle (lolaannmendez@gmail.com) and PayPal are appreciated. 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.

In addition to traditional journalism, I’m available for paid social media collaborations aligned with my areas of expertise. I have a community of 26,500 followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook who are interested in travel, sustainability, veganism, women’s health, and more.

I’m available for speaking gigs—I’ve given keynote speeches on inclusive LGBTQ+ travel and inclusive terminology for the Latine population. I’m also available to speak with PR teams about media relationships, brand development, and how to spin exclusive angles to help your clients land coverage, etc.

I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring unique 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 deeply understand the inner workings of relationships between PR/brands and writers/publications.

Consultations for brands and publicists include insights on best practices for pitching journalists, fostering relationships with journalists, media training, and more. I’m also available for hire to pen marketing materials, including press releases, media alerts, website copywriting, blog and social media content, and more.

For writers, my consultations include workshopping pitches and the opportunity 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

In June, I wrote seven articles (about 4,250 words). All of them were assignments.

I sent 27 pitches this month — three were commissioned; eight were rejected, placed elsewhere, or I opted to move on due to timeliness; and 16 are pending a response.

My portfolio can be viewed at LolaAnnMendez.com. In June, I had four articles published. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications, including Glamour and Ultimate Encounters.

I always post my calls for sources on Twitter.com/LolaAnnaMendez. Newsletter subscribers are privy to the first look at what I’m currently writing about. PR folks (and individuals when relevant) are welcome to send pitches for the stories I’m currently working on:

• The most disappointing attractions in the USA

• A travel guide to Crete

• USA kid-friendly campsites for fall travels

For editors who receive my newsletter, below are working heads for several pitches I’m trying to place. Fellow writers, if you have suggestions of where to pitch, I’d be super grateful.

• USA Pride Celebrations Beyond the Month of June

• The Highest Polo Match in the World

• There’d Be No Scotch Without Spanish Sherry

• Interview With Mexican Home Cook, Author of New Plant-Based Book

• Neighborhood Guide: Santitham — Chiang Mai, Thailand

I’m based in Montevideo, Uruguay, and my 2026 calendar is very open for press trips. I’ll be based in Uruguay through at least April 2027, and I’m super keen to go on press trips to Bolivia, Argentina, Guyana, Suriname, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Caribbean while I’m in LATAM.

Follow my adventures on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads.

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