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

Danielle Thornton: Woman Says She Lost Her Bank Job for Being Unvaccinated

Danielle Thornton: Woman Says She Lost Her Bank Job for Being Unvaccinated

US

4 years ago

Meet Mhlangabezi Mdutyana: South Africa’s 1st black observational ocean biogeochemist

Meet Mhlangabezi Mdutyana: South Africa’s 1st black observational ocean biogeochemist

People

4 years ago

LeBron James Gifts Mum Posh G Wagon to Celebrate Her Birthday: “Love You Infinity"

LeBron James Gifts Mum Posh G Wagon to Celebrate Her Birthday: “Love You Infinity"

US

4 years ago

Man stunned in hotel after being given bucket by receptionist to fetch water downstairs, shares video

Man stunned in hotel after being given bucket by receptionist to fetch water downstairs, shares video

Africa

4 years ago

American legend Shaquille O' Neal blesses crying boy, buys him new shoes & coat, tells him to hug his dad

American legend Shaquille O' Neal blesses crying boy, buys him new shoes & coat, tells him to hug his dad

US

4 years ago

Man Engages Woman Who Got Stuck with Him During Blind Date After Lockdown

Man Engages Woman Who Got Stuck with Him During Blind Date After Lockdown

Asia

4 years ago

Machine Gun Kelly Says He Bought Fiance ‘Thorny’ Ring So It Hurts when She Tries to Remove It

Machine Gun Kelly Says He Bought Fiance ‘Thorny’ Ring So It Hurts when She Tries to Remove It

US

4 years ago

Rapper Machine Gun Kelly shared several details about the diamond and emerald ring he bought lover Megan Fox, also disclosing why it will hurt when removed.

Cardi B: Relative of Victims in Bronx Fire Laud Rapper as Angel for Offering to Cover Burial Costs

Cardi B: Relative of Victims in Bronx Fire Laud Rapper as Angel for Offering to Cover Burial Costs

US

4 years ago

Cardi B, a Bronx native, was touched by the horrific incident that saw 17 people die. Her move to cover the burial costs left one family member lauding her.

Man embarrasses girlfriend as he shows up at her hospital to seek her hand in marriage in cute proposal video

Man embarrasses girlfriend as he shows up at her hospital to seek her hand in marriage in cute proposal video

US

4 years ago

A young man treated his girlfriend who is a nurse to an emotional surprise as he pulled a surprise proposal on her at the hospital. She shed tears in the video.

29-Year-Old Mother of 8 Says She and Husband Are Expecting 9th Child Together

29-Year-Old Mother of 8 Says She and Husband Are Expecting 9th Child Together

US

4 years ago

Yalancia, a 29-year-old woman from Texas, the US who has eight kids said she is pregnant with another child. The mum said she spends R5 400 on food per week.

Everything wanted to discourage me, but I went to school and graduated: Physically challenged man narrates

Everything wanted to discourage me, but I went to school and graduated: Physically challenged man narrates

Africa

4 years ago

A physically challenged man narrated how he was able to put up with the rigours of schooling. He empowered himself by going to the gym. He graduated and served.

Tik Toker Admits Sending Herself Drinks from Fake Secret Admirers so People Can Think She's in Demand

Tik Toker Admits Sending Herself Drinks from Fake Secret Admirers so People Can Think She's in Demand

US

4 years ago

A video of a lady named Sofia Franklyn admitting that she secretly sends herself a drink from a fake secret admirer on first dates has gone viral on TikTok.

74-Year-Old Woman Who Spent 27 Years in Prison for Crime She Didn't Commit Released

74-Year-Old Woman Who Spent 27 Years in Prison for Crime She Didn't Commit Released

US

4 years ago

Joyce Watkins, 74, was jailed in 1987 alongside her then-boyfriend Charlie Dunn for the murder of her great-niece. They were acquitted, but he died in prison.

'I've 13 children with 5 different women' - Man reveals in video

'I've 13 children with 5 different women' - Man reveals in video

Africa

4 years ago

A German-based Ghanaian man, Chief Adom, has opened up about his private and marriage life as he revealed that he has 13 children with five different women.

Man, 24, who hawks in traffic dressed in suit finally speaks, says he loves it

Man, 24, who hawks in traffic dressed in suit finally speaks, says he loves it

World

4 years ago

A young hardworking man, 24, who hawks dressed in suit during traffic has finally spoken on his style. He said he loves it and doesn't care what people think.

Maryn Blignaut