Life & Work with Tracey Morrison of Raeford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracey Morrison

Hi Tracey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
A “JUST DO IT” attitude drove my intriguing journey into this business. I always had a passion for writing and knew that it would take me places, but I didn’t fully know at the time what that journey would be like. I just knew I loved it. I would find myself writing lengthy stories and documentation in the classroom and at work. In the mid-2000s, I briefly contributed to an online blog before the website’s owner closed it down. I put my writing on hold to focus on being a working mom and attending graduate school. In 2010, UCLA Online Writer’s Extension offered an online writing course, but the overwhelming demands of life and the addition of volunteer work prevented me from fully pursuing my writing career at that time. I came to understand that the demands of life were pushing me further away from my writing goals.

However, my friend showed her faith in action by stepping out to run for city council, despite having no political experience or funding for her campaign. Her goal was to defeat a local Mayor Pro Tem who had held the position for years and was well-known in the community. This was enough to set her on the right path.

I made a sound decision in 2021 to be consistent with my writing by enrolling in some writing courses. It wasn’t until 2022 that a friend of mine, who I knew in the community, spearheaded an initiative with Greater Diversity News (GDN), a black-owned newspaper, to encourage HBCU students to join the NAACP. It wasn’t until I sent him an email that he accurately recognized my writing talent. He saw that special gift in me and pushed me to bigger platforms, which led me to write for Greater Diversity News every month and serve as a guest columnist with the Fayetteville Observer. 

I felt as though I had more to offer, driven by a deep passion to share a growing number of stories about opinion pieces, people, places, and things. I heard the words echo when my good friend said, “Tracey, you should do it on your own!” Those words resonated loudly in my ears, echoing in my mind like a beloved melody. After much contemplation and prayer, I made the bold decision to start my own blog. I launched the site fully in 2023 and began creating social media content in November of the same year.

I became consistent with my writing and social media content. I didn’t care if it was zero likes; I made sure to be consistent, and I eventually saw the fruit of my labor.

Soon, I was receiving high views and traction for some of my video content, with the highest being 2.8 million on Instagram, 1 million on Facebook, and over 5 million on TikTok.
 
My social media page combines trending news, entertainment, current events, sports, and local support, among other things. My page has reached a broader audience outside my city limit in places like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, and Atlanta. So far, celebrities such as Vivicia A. Fox, Kevin Garnett, Queen Latifah, Andréa Day, Kareem Grimes, Sanaa Lathan, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tina Thompson, Snoop Dogg, and Taj from SWV have received numerous likes and traction on my Instagram page. I say this not to brag but to prove that consistency does pay off.

My blog journey has been such a blessing. I was able to gain a partnership with two LA-based publicity firms, which led me to cover stories on the Forge cast members and some of the members of the NFL players choir.
 
Taking a chance on myself was the best move I could have ever made. I encourage anyone who has a dream to get yourself out there. Instead of overanalyzing and taking precautions, simply take action. It’s simple as that. Now I have the freedom to write what I wanted, share those amazing stories, and create social media content.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were some bumpy roads along my journey into entrepreneurship when it came to getting the website developed. The process was taking a long time, and I had my tired moments of wanting to throw in the towel. Slowly but surely, I snapped out of it because I knew within that what I was forming was something special and didn’t want to allow myself to have a quitter’s mindset that would deter me from my journey to greatness and success.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the founder and CEO of the Exclusive Press (EP). The Exclusive Press includes blogging, covering news, celebrity news, politics, entertainment, lifestyle, inspirational stories, and community heroes. The EP also covers social media content creators. I’m known for my well-written and emotionally charged stories. I’m proud of the position I’m in, having executed my vision two years ago and turned it into a reality. Each day I celebrate my milestones as an entrepreneur, big or small, because I know that I’m making progress when it comes to achieving my goals. What sets me apart is my creativity when it comes to writing articles. I’m able to heighten my senses and awareness when listening to people share their story, and I convert it onto paper.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
True love and value from loved ones make me happy. The ability to feel, know, and be around that love from a genuine place is the best feeling in the world. The material is nice, but it doesn’t beat being connected to that special type of love.

Furthermore, traveling brings me immense joy! I love seeing the world outside of my environment and discovering different cultures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theexclusivepress.com
• Instagram: @theexclusivepress
• Facebook: The Exclusive Press
• Twitter: @theEXCLPress