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

1170 articles published since 30 Oct 2017

Author's articles

India shuts down internet to curb cheating in teacher eligibility exam

India shuts down internet to curb cheating in teacher eligibility exam

World

4 years ago

Man fulfils dream, strikes pose as he marks buying a house and job promotion

Man fulfils dream, strikes pose as he marks buying a house and job promotion

World

4 years ago

Bride’s dad steals the show at wedding with lit dance moves, video wows many

Bride’s dad steals the show at wedding with lit dance moves, video wows many

World

4 years ago

Woman accepts best friend’s proposal, shares sweet photos online

Woman accepts best friend’s proposal, shares sweet photos online

World

4 years ago

Groom and his groomsmen light up dancefloor with amazing moves in viral video

Groom and his groomsmen light up dancefloor with amazing moves in viral video

World

4 years ago

Groom overjoyed after bride gifts him PS5 on wedding day, video warms hearts

Groom overjoyed after bride gifts him PS5 on wedding day, video warms hearts

World

4 years ago

Lady who delivered through CS & lost her memory hails hubby for his support

Lady who delivered through CS & lost her memory hails hubby for his support

World

4 years ago

Maame Achaa husband stood strongly by her side when she had her c-section and became bedridden. The story was shared on Facebook and it quickly went viral.

Artist creates photocopy pencil portraits in just 1 minute, videos go viral

Artist creates photocopy pencil portraits in just 1 minute, videos go viral

World

4 years ago

Aewura_arts, as she is known on Twitter, is a beautiful, talented artist. She is able to create exact images of people using only pencil in one-minute videos.

Woman buys son a mansion for his 6th birthday, causes frenzy online

Woman buys son a mansion for his 6th birthday, causes frenzy online

World

4 years ago

A businesswoman, Mercy, got people talking after she gave her son a beautiful mansion for his birthday. Many commeneded the woman for the gift to her child.

True love: Man, 24, receives kidney from soulmate he met on dating app

True love: Man, 24, receives kidney from soulmate he met on dating app

World

4 years ago

Twenty-four-year-old Reid Alexander is a lucky man after he met someone on dating app Tinder who not only became his soulmate but also donated a kidney to him.

Heritage Day: A look at the rich and beautiful cultures in Mzansi

Heritage Day: A look at the rich and beautiful cultures in Mzansi

People

4 years ago

Mzansi is a land filled with different cultures. Our rich heritage is something citizens can be proud of. Briefly News takes a look at the different cultures.

Girl makes Africa proud, emerges as one of the brightest students in the world

Girl makes Africa proud, emerges as one of the brightest students in the world

World

4 years ago

A Nigerian girl made the nation proud as she became one of the brightest students in the world after scoring high in a SCAT exam put together by John Hopkins.

Man says he married wife after dating her for more than 6 years, peeps divided

Man says he married wife after dating her for more than 6 years, peeps divided

World

4 years ago

The post sighted by Briefly News on Twitter had @drferuke narrated that he dated his current wife for more than six years before marrying her and many reacted.

2 Women who have been friends for 80 years celebrate as one turns 90

2 Women who have been friends for 80 years celebrate as one turns 90

World

4 years ago

Two Nigerian women who have been friends for 80 years have warmed hearts on social media as one of them clocked 90 years. Their video has inspired many online.

Man who is building a helicopter carries out flight test, shares photos

Man who is building a helicopter carries out flight test, shares photos

World

4 years ago

A 22-year-old man has been working for years to build an aircraft. After testing his fifth prototype in 2021, he said he is happy about the results he got.

Maryn Blignaut