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

Covid-19: New Zealand to go into national lockdown over 1 confirmed case

Covid-19: New Zealand to go into national lockdown over 1 confirmed case

World

4 years ago

Covid-19: Mon shares experience battling virus while nursing 9-month-old baby

Covid-19: Mon shares experience battling virus while nursing 9-month-old baby

World

4 years ago

Woman who gave birth to baby boy at 48 says some people refer to her as granny

Woman who gave birth to baby boy at 48 says some people refer to her as granny

World

4 years ago

Video shows moment man proposes to lady in church while pastor prays for her

Video shows moment man proposes to lady in church while pastor prays for her

World

4 years ago

Jennifer Lopez finally wipes out memory of ex Alex Rodrigeuz from social media

Jennifer Lopez finally wipes out memory of ex Alex Rodrigeuz from social media

World

4 years ago

Kevin Hart, wife celebrate 5 year anniversary with sweet posts: “Forever to go”

Kevin Hart, wife celebrate 5 year anniversary with sweet posts: “Forever to go”

World

4 years ago

Justin Bieber shoots music video for his verse on ’Essence’, Wizkid’s fans react

Justin Bieber shoots music video for his verse on ’Essence’, Wizkid’s fans react

World

4 years ago

Singer Justine Bieber left many impressed after sharing a music video for his verse on Wizkid's Essence. Music lovers flooded his comment section with reactions

Kourtney Kardashian’s lover Travis Barker flies for 1st time since surviving deadly plane crash in 2008

Kourtney Kardashian’s lover Travis Barker flies for 1st time since surviving deadly plane crash in 2008

World

4 years ago

Kourtney Kardashian's boyfriend rock star Travis Barker joined her on a vacation to Mexico that saw him take his first flight in 13 years. It was life changing.

Kalani and Jarani: 5 photos of the twin sisters born with rare black and white skin colours

Kalani and Jarani: 5 photos of the twin sisters born with rare black and white skin colours

World

4 years ago

Twin sisters Kalani and Jarani Dean were born on April 23, 2016, in Quincy, Illinois, and their parents have since not been able to contain their joy. Photos.

Erykah Badu apologises to the Obamas after recording former US president's 'maskless' party

Erykah Badu apologises to the Obamas after recording former US president's 'maskless' party

World

4 years ago

Erykah Badu apologised for recording Barack Obama and his wife dancing during his 60th birthday party. She said it was wrong for her to record a private event.

President Cyril Ramaphosa: A look at his R6.4 billion nett worth and how he generated it

President Cyril Ramaphosa: A look at his R6.4 billion nett worth and how he generated it

People

4 years ago

President Cyril Ramaphosa stepped back from politics after losing an election to Thabo Mbeki and he went on to make billions of rands in the private sector.

Zoie Health introduces one-stop women’s health platform

Zoie Health introduces one-stop women’s health platform

People

4 years ago

Zoie Health is providing an incredible South African innovation for SA women, supporting women as they consider their health, fertility and post birth support.

Man who had never used computer goes to varsity & graduates as AI expert

Man who had never used computer goes to varsity & graduates as AI expert

World

4 years ago

Maxwell Aladago arrived at Ashesi University after he never used a computer in his life. He now does PhD research in Artificial Intelligence at Dartmouth, USA

Reactions as creative kid operates manual excavator, packs dirt from gutter

Reactions as creative kid operates manual excavator, packs dirt from gutter

World

4 years ago

A smart little kid has been hailed on social media for his creativity after an adorable video of him operating a manual excavator was shared by a LinkedIn user.

Prince Charles, Princess Diana’s 40-year-old royal wedding cake slice sells for R37 000

Prince Charles, Princess Diana’s 40-year-old royal wedding cake slice sells for R37 000

World

4 years ago

The original price the piece was expected to sell was between R6 000 and R11 000 but it got even more. The buyer said earnings from it would go to charity.

Maryn Blignaut