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

Couple Who Cancelled Wedding in 2020 Almost Misses Second Chance After Groom Got Food Poisoning on D-Day

Couple Who Cancelled Wedding in 2020 Almost Misses Second Chance After Groom Got Food Poisoning on D-Day

US

4 years ago

High School Students Surprise Elderly Teacher with Sneakers After Noticing His Shoes Were Getting Old

High School Students Surprise Elderly Teacher with Sneakers After Noticing His Shoes Were Getting Old

US

4 years ago

Lady graduates as overall best student from Central University; inspires many with photos

Lady graduates as overall best student from Central University; inspires many with photos

Africa

4 years ago

It is harder than it sounds: 24-year-old pretty lady working as a bus driver for 5 years opens up

It is harder than it sounds: 24-year-old pretty lady working as a bus driver for 5 years opens up

World

4 years ago

Angry woman slaps husband as he revealed how she keeps 'poop' and 'pee' in their bedroom in video

Angry woman slaps husband as he revealed how she keeps 'poop' and 'pee' in their bedroom in video

Africa

4 years ago

They go to toilet together: Identical twin sisters dating 40-year-old man want to get pregnant same time

They go to toilet together: Identical twin sisters dating 40-year-old man want to get pregnant same time

World

4 years ago

Khloe Kardashian's Baby Daddy Tristan Thompson Reportedly Expecting Third Baby with Personal Trainer

Khloe Kardashian's Baby Daddy Tristan Thompson Reportedly Expecting Third Baby with Personal Trainer

US

4 years ago

Khloe Kardashian's baby daddy Tristan Thompson is expecting a third with a personal trainer who has sued him for child support and other pregnancy-related fees.

Honest Bolt driver praised for returning money after passenger mistakenly paid the fair 10 times

Honest Bolt driver praised for returning money after passenger mistakenly paid the fair 10 times

Africa

4 years ago

Osei Edward Akoto drives Bolt in and around Accra. A passenger mistakenly sent him more than 10 times the lorry fare and Edward was kind to return it quickly.

Man spotted carrying daughter to school during strike gets brand new car

World

4 years ago

A man was seen on December 6, 2021, carrying his daughter to school. The photo went viral as this happened during the strike by transport operators. Read more.

Man completely destroys his best friend's car, surprises him with a better one a week later in viral video

Man completely destroys his best friend's car, surprises him with a better one a week later in viral video

World

4 years ago

A man went to his best friend's place and completely destroyed his car. The friend was hurt by the man's action but was however gifted a new car a week later.

The man who brought up billionaire Elon musk: Who is Errol Musk?

The man who brought up billionaire Elon musk: Who is Errol Musk?

Celebrity biographies

4 years ago

ERROL MUSK is the father of the billionaire Elon musk. He is also known for being scandalous and for his estranged ties with his kids. Get to know him here.

Thabo Mbeki is worth R177.5 million and has no one to leave his fortune to

Thabo Mbeki is worth R177.5 million and has no one to leave his fortune to

People

4 years ago

Thabo Mbeki is one of the richest politicians in South Africa with a nett worth of R177.5 million. Briefly News takes a look at how he generated the fortune.

I will build the first car I'll drive; Young boy who built small cars with aluminium zinc declares

I will build the first car I'll drive; Young boy who built small cars with aluminium zinc declares

Africa

4 years ago

Oyedele Femi Olamide, is a multi-talented innovative boy who builds small cars using aluminium zinc. The boy said he wants to build the first car he'd drive.

Loving Wife Turns to Social Media to Appeal Job for Husband: "It Hurts to See Him Broken"

Loving Wife Turns to Social Media to Appeal Job for Husband: "It Hurts to See Him Broken"

Africa

4 years ago

A woman turned to Facebook to ask for jobs on behalf of her husband and explained she was exhausted seeing her hubby broken because he can't provide at home.

Alec Baldwin Says He Doesn't Feel Guilty After Rust Movie Shooting

Alec Baldwin Says He Doesn't Feel Guilty After Rust Movie Shooting

US

4 years ago

Alec Baldwin said he wasn't the one who pulled the trigger during the Rust movie set shooting that killed a cinematographer and added he doesn't feel guilty.

Maryn Blignaut