About Todd Johnson

Todd Johnson is the Chief Content Officer at theGrio.com. Todd first joined the site as a reporter and video journalist shortly after its launch in June, 2009. He’s covered a variety of important news events, including trips to Haiti reporting on the devastating earthquake, as well as several reports on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and Ferguson protests. He's previously served as theGrio's Managing Editor, as well as the Editorial Director for NBCBLK, a division of NBC News Digital. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he received both his bachelors and masters degree.

All Articles

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 24, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley was right at home at the ESPYS red carpet in Los Angeles. The 41-year-old boxer has had quite the 2013 – punctuated so far by coming out of retirement to defeat a much younger Pablo Cano in May. But boxing is still the center of Mosley’s life…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 23, 2013
theGRIO VIDEO – Each year, ESPN The Magazine’s ‘Body Issue’ is a showcase for athletes to display their out-of-this-world physiques. Kenneth Faried said he was partly inspired to participate when former NBA center Jason Collins revealed that he was gay in a Sports Illustrated article…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 22, 2013
theGRIO VIDEO – Brittney Griner won an ESPY Award last week for Best Female College Athlete. The Mercury drafted her No. 1 overall and she’s proving her worth. Off the court, Griner has become a strong opponent of bullying and a role model for the LGBT equality…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 19, 2013
theGRIO VIDEO – The Comedy Central duo were recently renewed for a third season for their hit show sketch comedy series, “Key and Peele,” which will debut in September. Key and Peele attended this year’s ESPY Awards in Los Angeles and revealed the role sports will play in their third season…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 19, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – Charles Barkley is never at a loss for words. So why would reacting to the George Zimmerman trial and verdict be any different?…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 18, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – Robin Roberts received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2013 ESPYS, an honor received in past years by notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 15, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – Saturday, more than a year since Martin’s death, a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder – a verdict which led to a wide range of responses from professional athletes, including Dwyane Wade…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 9, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – ‘The Decision’ will always be a part of LeBron James career. Courtney Cox, a Los Angeles-based writer and editor, was working at ESPN at the time of ‘The Decision.’…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 2, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – An ailing back may have kept Venus Williams out of this year’s Wimbledon, but her imprint on the tournament is undeniable. The five-time Wimbledon champ was instrumental in the fight to get female players equal pay at tennis’ premiere Grand Slam…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 27, 2013
OPINION – Three members of the 2003 NBA Draft class just completed back to back title runs. And a fourth member was the league’s leading scorer this season. Tonight’s draft class has a lot to live up to…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 26, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – Adrian Peterson returns to a Vikings team that won ten games last season, but fell to the Packers in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Peterson surpassed 2000 yards rushing, but he’s aiming for even higher in 2013-14…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 24, 2013
VIDEO – This week, former NBA point guard Jay Williams opens up about his career-ending injury to HBO’s ‘Real Sports.’ Williams is now a college basketball analyst for ESPN…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 21, 2013
OPINION – As regrettable as his entrance to South Beach was, LeBron James is doing exactly what he said he was going to do in Miami: win multiple championships…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 20, 2013
ANALYSIS – The Heat and Spurs have gone back and forth, trading wins and losses like two heavyweights fighting towards a draw. Except their are no ties in basketball, no co-champions…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 18, 2013
OPINION – Monday, reports surfaced his ex-wife Tawanna had accused the 38-year-old of ‘kidnapping’ their five kids…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 17, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – George Foreman certainly has the gift of gab. The former two-time heavyweight champ turned boxing promoter loves his sport and wants to see it grow. Especially the heavyweight division…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 12, 2013
theGRIO VIDEO – Myrlie Evers-Williams remembers that night her husband Medgar was shot on the couple’s driveway like it just happened. Last month, she revisited her former home in Jackson, Mississippi, where 50 years ago today, a White Supremacist killed him…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 10, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – NBA TV’s new documentary The Doctor overflows with incredible adjectives, stories and highlights of the Hall-of-Fame basketball career of Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 4, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – 2007 seems like ages ago for LeBron James. Tim Duncan and his Spurs dispatched James’ Cavaliers in four games, earning Duncan his fourth NBA Championship ring…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
June 3, 2013
theGRIO REPORT – Grant Hill announced his retirement Saturday night, moments before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Hill joined TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew and summed up his career closing in two words: ‘I’m done’…