About Melissa Noel

Melissa Noel is an award-winning freelance multimedia journalist in New York City. Noel's work focuses on telling stories that center on the issues impacting marginalized communities and the Caribbean Diaspora. Her commitment to bringing attention to underreported stories has earned her accolades such as a Global Media Award for excellence in reporting from the International Labour Organization, A Salute to Excellence Award from The National Association of Black Journalists, and a White House Correspondents' Association journalism award.

All Articles

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 8, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – The songstress appeared in a series of ads for the skincare brand in 2011, had her song ‘California King Bed’ featured in commercials and even had her tour sponsored by Nivea…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 8, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – Hillary Clinton may have have a reputation for being a serious stateswoman, but she knows how to cut loose too. The Secretary of State hit the dance floor at a reception in South Africa on Tuesday evening…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 7, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – The family of the late R& B singer Aaliyah is putting to rumors that they have a role in any posthumous album release to rest…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 7, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – Their disappearance has sparked fears that the athlete left the games so that they could claim asylum in England for economic reasons…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 7, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – A community college janitor lost his job after allegedly offering a teenager ‘as much money as she wanted’ if she would allow him to suck her toes…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 4, 2012
SLIDESHOW – Every four years we watch the Olympics Games with excitement as America’s greatest athletes compete against their best international competitors for a chance to bring home the gold…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
August 2, 2012
A  homeless man from New York City is the newest YouTube sensation. A video of James Percell belting out lyrics to his […]
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 31, 2012
The gold medal that team USA’s Ryan Lotche won was not the only thing shining as he stood on the podium to receive it…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 31, 2012
The daughter of Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony member Flesh-N-Bone has been reported missing by the rapper’s family…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 31, 2012
SLIDESHOW With his much anticipated fifth album dropping today, ‘God Forgives, I Don’t’, we count Rick Ross’ top 10 best songs…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 25, 2012
theGRIO REPORT – Hip-hop veteran Nas now has six number albums under his belt. His tenth studio album Life is Good debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart this week…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 25, 2012
Legendary producer DJ Premier thinks that the age gap between younger artists and those who paved the way for them is one of the biggest problems in hip-hop right now…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 24, 2012
SLIDESHOW – The fourth annual summer Black Doll and Art Show took place on July 21st in New York City…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 23, 2012
theGRIO VIDEO – One of the largest independent black-owned bookstores is closing it’s doors after serving the Harlem community for 10 years…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 16, 2012
A U.K. based promotions company claims the rapper accepted a down payment for a 2011 concert, but cancelled it and held on to the more than $87,000 that was deposited into his bank account…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 13, 2012
Frank Ocean released the digital version of his album Channel Orange more than one bfore it comes out in stores. The R&B singer says that his decision was influenced by Jay- Z and Kanye West’s release strategy for their multi-platinum Watch the Throne album.
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 13, 2012
VIDEO – This week investors expect several earnings reports — such as Citigroup, Intel and Yahoo to name a few -As well as reports on housing, production and inflation.
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 11, 2012
D’Angelo and Mary J. Blige are teaming up for a tour. The veteran R& B singer and the Queen of hip-hop soul will co-headline The Liberation Tour this August…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 11, 2012
Against all odds, Michaela DePrince, once an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone, is now a ballerina…
Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.
July 11, 2012
Veteran rapper and producer Robert ‘Lord Finesse’ Hall is suing rising star Mac Miller for using one of his songs without permission…