Pitch Call: Mother's Day Gifts + AARP Travel/Camping

Earned and sponsored media opportunities coming at 'cha

Hello friends,

First off - shout out to the Brooklyn Museum, where my friends and I danced until after midnight at their gala afterparty the other night. I just bought a ticket for my local botanical garden’s gala in June, so my next article might be about the joy of gala hopping. :)

It’s 80 degrees in NYC, I CANNOT WAIT for the weekend. I’m just popping in with some pitch calls and a quick reminder about a special event I’m leading next week.

Also, I’ll be in Spain for much of May, and I’m on the lookout for unique hotels in Madrid that may want to host me for three nights. Do you rep one? Let me know!

Cassandra

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CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS

Thanks to everyone who responded to my Sierra Club and Hilton pitch calls last week - please note that the pitch calls are now closed.

1. AARP - Campsite Cooking

I’m working on a new AARP Travel article about campsite cooking. The piece is geared at new and relatively inexperienced campers who are still learning about cooking at a campsite (be it in the RV, on a grill, or over the campfire). The audience is readers in their 50s, not the retiree population of their AARP Bulletin.

I’m seeking experts who can weigh in on campsite cooking tips, tricks, and safety precautions. I am looking for:

1. Park rangers

2. Hiking guides

3. Camping tour leaders

4. Fire safety experts

5. Others with similar experience

I’m afraid I’m not seeking comments or product recommendations from camping or food brands. If that changes, I’ll probably send a last-minute private pitch call, or reach out to brands I’ve met at recent product showcases.

To pitch me:

• Requirements: See above. Also, please note that I am NOT seeking camping destinations, so please do not send those.

• Subject line: Campsite Cooking + Insert Your Expert Here

• Email: cassandra@escapingny.com

• Pitch by: EOD Tuesday, May 6

Because I write for AARP so much, I created an AARP Pitch Call Explainer last year. If you’d like some guidance on how to target your pitch better, check out that newsletter.

2. Yahoo - Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Outdoorsy/Wellness-Focused Moms

I’m working on an article for outdoorsy and wellness-focused moms for Yahoo and I’m partnering with Press Hook. This will be a sponsored post, and Press Hook will be coordinating the product pitches and taking the payments ($350/product featured). If you’re interested, head over to Press Hook for more info.

An example of a similar Yahoo Gift Guide I did (which generated 60,000 views), is this: Gifts Under $25 for People Who Have Everything

To pitch:

• Requirements: See above.

• Pitch by: EOD Tuesday, May 6

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Join My Free Press Trip Trends Event!

Struggling to fill your press trips? Learn what top-tier journalists actually look for—and how to pitch them trips they can’t resist.

Event Description:

You're spending time, energy, and money crafting and running press trips—so why are your invitations going unanswered?

In “4 Press Trip Trends You Need to Know About,” travel writer, guidebook author, and former international tour leader, Cassandra Brooklyn, reveals current press trip trends, along with the essential elements that make or break a press trip and press trip pitch.

Whether you're hosting group tours or solo media visits, this session will uncover what seasoned journalists really want, how to stand out in a crowded inbox, and how to design experiences that get booked—and get written about.

This 45-minute session is perfect for tourism boards, PR professionals, and tour operators who are tired of ghosted emails and half-filled trips.

What to Expect:

• Learn why it’s harder than ever to get journalists on board—and what to do about it

• Learn what experienced writers actually look for in a press trip

• Get expert tips for crafting irresistible invitations

• Discover how to balance structure and flexibility in your itinerary

• Real talk: Learn what makes a trip feel like a waste of time to a journalist

• Live Q&A with Cassandra Brooklyn

Best of all…it’s FREE…for all of my paid subscribers, that is. My paid Substack newsletter is a crucial part of my income, and I could not afford to craft these posts or run these events without your support. Subscriptions start at $9, so if you believe that being able to fill your press trip is worth $9, this one’s for you!

Sign up now and you’ll also get immediate access to the full Substack archive, which includes all of the link posts above.

4 Press Trip Trends Event

Date & Time:

📅 Wednesday, May 7, 2025

🕐 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (ET)

💻 Virtual via Zoom

Follow the link below to register and to submit questions in advance for me to cover on the call. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the link to the call.