Best News & Entertainment '24

Maryn Blignaut

Education: BA in Communication Science, University of South Africa (2012–2016), AFP Digital Investigation Techniques (GNI, 2023), Google News Initiative training (2024), Thomson Reuters Foundation AI Adoption Training and WAN-IFRA Women in News Programme (2025)

Experience: Briefly News (2017-present)

Awards: - Best Appealing Storytelling: Highest Average Pageviews, 2023 by Briefly News - Awarded the 2023 Gender Mainstreaming Award (Empowerment of Women in the Community) as part of the Briefly News team

Maryn Blignaut is the Editor-in-Chief at Briefly News, with nine years of experience in digital journalism. She holds a BA in Communication Science from the University of South Africa (2016) and specialises in digital storytelling and feature writing. She has completed advanced professional training in media and innovation, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course, multiple Google News Initiative programmes, Thomson Reuters AI Adoption Training, and the WAN-IFRA Women in News leadership programme. For enquiries, contact maryn.blignaut@briefly.co.za

1172 articles published since 30 Oct 2017

Author's articles

Excited young man celebrates receiving Honda Accord as birthday gift from girlfriend; many are wowed

Excited young man celebrates receiving Honda Accord as birthday gift from girlfriend; many are wowed

Africa

3 years ago

'Wild' video of gigantic python crossing road during strange hours at night causes stir; peeps react

'Wild' video of gigantic python crossing road during strange hours at night causes stir; peeps react

Africa

3 years ago

Pizza Delivery Man Sues 16 Friends after They Won R15.7m in Lottery but Didn't Share

Pizza Delivery Man Sues 16 Friends after They Won R15.7m in Lottery but Didn't Share

US

3 years ago

Drama as Elderly Man Taken to Morgue in Body Bag While Still Alive

Drama as Elderly Man Taken to Morgue in Body Bag While Still Alive

Asia

3 years ago

Kim Kardashian Flaunts Photos of Her, Lover Pete Davidson Looking Glamourous at White House Press Dinner

Kim Kardashian Flaunts Photos of Her, Lover Pete Davidson Looking Glamourous at White House Press Dinner

US

3 years ago

100-year-old-man sets Guinness World Record for longest-serving employee in same company

100-year-old-man sets Guinness World Record for longest-serving employee in same company

World

3 years ago

“I'm a dedicated hardworking person” - Black teen who received over R126m in scholarship offers

“I'm a dedicated hardworking person” - Black teen who received over R126m in scholarship offers

US

3 years ago

Xzorion Harris, a final-year student at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, has received more than $8 million in scholarships from more than 100 schools. Read.

She's made history: At 19, teen becomes youngest Black student ever to graduate law school in US

She's made history: At 19, teen becomes youngest Black student ever to graduate law school in US

US

3 years ago

At age 19, Haley Taylor Schlitz has become the youngest African-American ever to graduate from law school in the United States of America. Read more on YEN.

Addicted giver: Woman wins R2.2bn in lottery jackpot, shares more than half to charity, gives strong reasons

Addicted giver: Woman wins R2.2bn in lottery jackpot, shares more than half to charity, gives strong reasons

Europe

3 years ago

Frances Connolly, 55 from Hartlepool, England, has given more than half of her N59bn EuroMillions jackpot to poor people. She beleives money liberates people.

Man Who Drinks His Month-Old Urine Says His Sister Hates Him Because of His Lifestyle

Man Who Drinks His Month-Old Urine Says His Sister Hates Him Because of His Lifestyle

Europe

3 years ago

Harry Matadeen, 34, from the United Kingdom, began drinking urine in the summer of 2016 due to depression and he now claims it is the secrete to eternal youth.

Rural community rallies together to build classrooms, sell livestock and use grant money

Rural community rallies together to build classrooms, sell livestock and use grant money

People

3 years ago

Parents from a rural community sold their livestock and used grant money to further their children’s education after Government failed to deliver on promises.

My life is difficult: 70-year-old virgin still waiting for true love opens up in video, says it is painful

My life is difficult: 70-year-old virgin still waiting for true love opens up in video, says it is painful

Africa

3 years ago

Kamaliza Verena is a 70-year-old virgin still hoping to get a boyfriend before she kicks the bucket. The woman has been unlucky with love despite being loving.

Brilliant lady graduates as Medical Laboratory Scientist and valedictorian with 7 awards

Brilliant lady graduates as Medical Laboratory Scientist and valedictorian with 7 awards

US

3 years ago

Kamsi Muoka graduated as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. She emerged as a valedictorian and part of the top 1% students in her class with numerous awards...

Petrol attendant who graduated with a law degree lands dream job: "Trust God"

Petrol attendant who graduated with a law degree lands dream job: "Trust God"

People

3 years ago

Siphesihle Nqoro became an internet sensation last year after he proved that dreams come true. He bagged a law degree while working as a petrol attendant.

Video shows cute moment stranger gave a homeless man in wheelchair triple of his house rent, he wept hard

Video shows cute moment stranger gave a homeless man in wheelchair triple of his house rent, he wept hard

US

3 years ago

A homeless man in wheelchair identified as Michael was reduced to tears as a stranger gave him more than triple of his house rent. He had helped the stranger.

Maryn Blignaut