As News Corp Australia’s Head of Food, Travel, and Health, Kerrie McCallum oversees delicious., Escape, and Body+Soul – brands reaching 8.2 million Australians monthly. Her work redefines lifestyle journalism through:
“The best stories help readers live richer lives, not just consume content.”
Kerrie McCallum has spent over 25 years redefining how Australians engage with lifestyle media. Beginning her career in fashion journalism, she transitioned seamlessly into food, travel, and health, leveraging her editorial instincts to build News Corp Australia’s most influential brands. Her leadership of delicious., Escape, and Body+Soul reflects a unique blend of data-driven strategy and intuitive storytelling.
In this March 2025 interview with Travel Weekly Australia, McCallum decodes modern traveler psychology amid economic pressures. She identifies video content as the linchpin for engagement, citing Escape’s success with presenter-led destination narratives. The analysis reveals her team’s use of real-time analytics to balance aspirational storytelling with practical advice, such as cultural etiquette guides and premium class reviews that drive affiliate revenue.
This 2023 Mediaweek profile dissects McCallum’s “methodical madness” in brand development. Through case studies like Travel + Luxury’s launch, she demonstrates how to align editorial calendars with advertiser needs without compromising journalistic integrity. The piece highlights her cross-category integration strategies, such as pairing wellness retreat coverage with premium food tourism opportunities.
While primarily a professional bio, this resource encapsulates McCallum’s editorial philosophy through curated travel highlights. It emphasizes her focus on experience-driven journeys over checklist tourism, mirrored in Escape’s shift toward “travel dupes” and rail adventure features.
McCallum prioritizes travel and wellness offerings that promise personal growth over mere relaxation. Successful pitches integrate multiple categories – e.g., a Japanese ryokan stay combining kaiseki dining (food), forest therapy (wellness), and artisan workshops (culture). Reference her team’s Escape series on mindfulness retreats that increased time-on-page by 40%.
With 68% of Escape readers demanding transparent sustainability practices, McCallum seeks partners who quantify environmental impact. A recent hotel chain collaboration showcased carbon-neutral certifications alongside guest education programs, driving a 15% uplift in social shares.
As articulated in her 2025 Travel Weekly interview, McCallum’s teams produce 300+ travel videos annually. Pitches with embedded video assets (e.g., 60-second destination teasers) see 2x higher acceptance rates. Her current focus: first-person narratives that blend practical tips (“How to navigate Tokyo’s tuna auction”) with emotional resonance.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Travel, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
