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

Young Man Accidentally Invited to Dinner by Grandma via Text 5 Years Ago Visits Her Yearly

Young Man Accidentally Invited to Dinner by Grandma via Text 5 Years Ago Visits Her Yearly

US

4 years ago

Man shares video of Rolls Royce Phantom worth R7m being used as taxi in Dubai, causes stir online

Man shares video of Rolls Royce Phantom worth R7m being used as taxi in Dubai, causes stir online

World

4 years ago

Keyshia Cole Mourns Adoptive Dad’s Death From Covid19 Months after Mum’s Passing: “Greatest Example of Love”

Keyshia Cole Mourns Adoptive Dad’s Death From Covid19 Months after Mum’s Passing: “Greatest Example of Love”

US

4 years ago

Couple goals: Man and his wife graduate from UDS; poses with her in cute photo

Couple goals: Man and his wife graduate from UDS; poses with her in cute photo

Africa

4 years ago

Young bride removes her gele, throws it away as she dances hard in viral video, husband looks surprised

Young bride removes her gele, throws it away as she dances hard in viral video, husband looks surprised

Africa

4 years ago

Actor George Clooney Says He Didn't Want Wife, Kids Before Meeting Love of His Life Amal

Actor George Clooney Says He Didn't Want Wife, Kids Before Meeting Love of His Life Amal

US

4 years ago

Drop the Album: Rihanna's Fans Hilariously Ask Singer to Return to Music During Club Appearance

Drop the Album: Rihanna's Fans Hilariously Ask Singer to Return to Music During Club Appearance

US

4 years ago

Rihanna was impressed when she saw a banner with words "Drop the album" appearing on a big screen during her recent visit to a nightclub. Fans were cheeky.

Husband Celebrates Kind Wife Who Paid His Fare During Their First Meeting as They Mark 2nd Anniversary

Husband Celebrates Kind Wife Who Paid His Fare During Their First Meeting as They Mark 2nd Anniversary

Africa

4 years ago

Daniel said that after she paid for his cab fare, he could not let her disappear forever and knew she was the one. The two have been together for five years.

I wasn't born this way; Young lady with 'short legs' opens up in video, says men are not proud of her

I wasn't born this way; Young lady with 'short legs' opens up in video, says men are not proud of her

Africa

4 years ago

Chiwetalu Charity is a 24-year-old Nigerian lady who now has 'short legs' but wasn't born that way. The lady inspite of her situation is positive about life.

Rich woman transfers her house, gold & assets of R2m to man who served her for 25 years, ignores relatives

Rich woman transfers her house, gold & assets of R2m to man who served her for 25 years, ignores relatives

Asia

4 years ago

A poor man has now become a millionaire after a rich woman named Minati Patnaik transferred her house, gold ornaments and assets worth N55.5 million to him.

I cried all the way; Man who has been living in the woods with no electricity or running water for 40 years

I cried all the way; Man who has been living in the woods with no electricity or running water for 40 years

Europe

4 years ago

A 74-year-old man Ken Smith has now lived in the woods for the past 40 years with no electricity and running water. He shares an insight into his daily living.

I finally got him; Nigerian lady shares chats as she weds man who had been ignoring her since 2017 on Facebook

I finally got him; Nigerian lady shares chats as she weds man who had been ignoring her since 2017 on Facebook

Africa

4 years ago

A beautiful lady has celebrated getting married to a man she met on Facebook. She had first chatted him up bur he kept ignoring her until he finally responded.

I slept in a car for 4 weeks after leaving my job as a chef - Man reveals in video

I slept in a car for 4 weeks after leaving my job as a chef - Man reveals in video

Africa

4 years ago

A Ghanaian professional chef, Kwame Nicholas, has recounted turbulent times he endured after relocating to the UK on October 24, 1999, for a better life. Video.

Man finds luxury clothes & diamond award in old mansion abandoned by female Oyinbo politician, shares video

Man finds luxury clothes & diamond award in old mansion abandoned by female Oyinbo politician, shares video

US

4 years ago

A man has discovered an old mansion abandoned by a female politician. The interiors shows she left many luxury clothes behind including a 1994 diamond award.

Inside the Titanic Owner’s Abandoned Mansion with 110 Rooms

Inside the Titanic Owner’s Abandoned Mansion with 110 Rooms

US

4 years ago

The impressive 111-roomed mansion that once belonged to the Titanic's majority shareholder Peter Widener is wasting away in Pennsylvania in the United States.

Maryn Blignaut