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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Man wrongfully jailed for 16 years dies of Covid19 after release from prison

Man wrongfully jailed for 16 years dies of Covid19 after release from prison

World

4 years ago

Damon Thibodeaux, an American man who was wrongfully jailed for 16 years for murder, died from Covid-19 nine years after a team of lawyers proved his innocence.

Husband surprises wife with brand new Mercedes Benz day before she gives birth

World

4 years ago

An expectant woman was over the moon after her husband gave her a stunning gift to celebrate her pregnancy and also mark the awaited arrival of their child.

Rihanna shows love to fans on streets, warms hearts as she gifts stranger cash

Rihanna shows love to fans on streets, warms hearts as she gifts stranger cash

World

4 years ago

Barbadian singer Rihanna has got social media users talking after showing love to fans on the streets. The singer could be seen having a conversation with them.

Sian Proctor: African-American doctor becomes 1st black woman to pilot a spacecraft

Sian Proctor: African-American doctor becomes 1st black woman to pilot a spacecraft

World

4 years ago

Dr Sian Proctor has become the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft after SpaceX’s Inspiration4 Mission successfully launched into space on Wednesday. Read.

Ronaldo and family forced out of new mansion in Manchester due to animal disturbances

Ronaldo and family forced out of new mansion in Manchester due to animal disturbances

World

4 years ago

Cristiano Ronaldo and his family have reportedly swapped mansions just weeks into their UK return because bleating sheep were keeping them awake all night.

Lisa Wilson: Activist loses 6 family members to Covid19 within 3 weeks

Lisa Wilson: Activist loses 6 family members to Covid19 within 3 weeks

World

4 years ago

Despite being a Covid19 advocate, Lisa Wilson could not convince members of her family to get the vaccine in just two days she had lost her uncle and grandma.

Gabrielle Union feared Dwayne might not love her fully over fertility issues

Gabrielle Union feared Dwayne might not love her fully over fertility issues

World

4 years ago

Actress Gabriel Union said she felt like her body had failed her and that her husband, Dwayne Wade, deserved someone better than her, who could birth a child.

Kim Kardashian says she's done having children after filing divorce from Kanye West

Kim Kardashian says she's done having children after filing divorce from Kanye West

World

4 years ago

Kim Kardashian's quick response sparked mixed reactions on social media with quite a number of her fans wondering she had chose to stop giving birth at 40.

Maryn Blignaut