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

Lady bags awards as she emerges best graduating student of her faculty, shares adorable photos

Lady bags awards as she emerges best graduating student of her faculty, shares adorable photos

World

4 years ago

Kind man cooks 50 plates of rice and chicken every week, feeds homeless

Kind man cooks 50 plates of rice and chicken every week, feeds homeless

World

5 years ago

Man spoils his grandma on birthday, takes her for a ride in R2m BMW sports car, video causes stir

Man spoils his grandma on birthday, takes her for a ride in R2m BMW sports car, video causes stir

World

5 years ago

Beautiful lady, 24, discovers her colleague is the biological dad she had been looking for

Beautiful lady, 24, discovers her colleague is the biological dad she had been looking for

World

5 years ago

Baby’s cute reaction while watching a clip of herself goes viral

Baby’s cute reaction while watching a clip of herself goes viral

World

5 years ago

Arsenal ready to offer Premier League rivals 2 stars in exchange for versatile midfielder

Arsenal ready to offer Premier League rivals 2 stars in exchange for versatile midfielder

World

5 years ago

Chelsea star backed to win Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Chelsea star backed to win Ballon d'Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

World

5 years ago

Jorginho is a clear frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or award after a stellar 2020/21 season. The midfielder won the Champions League and the European championship.

Wayne Rooney rates Man United’s title chances ahead of the new season

Wayne Rooney rates Man United’s title chances ahead of the new season

World

5 years ago

Manchester United came close to challenging for the Premier League title last season but lost the race to rivals City. United finished second with 74 points.

Jeff Bezos donates over R1.4 billion each to CNN journo Van Jones and chef Jose Andre

Jeff Bezos donates over R1.4 billion each to CNN journo Van Jones and chef Jose Andre

World

5 years ago

Van Jones and Jose Andres, according to Amazon founder Bezos, are free to do anything they want with the money, including giving to their preferred charities.

Teacher celebrated for composing rap song to teach kids decimals in class

Teacher celebrated for composing rap song to teach kids decimals in class

World

5 years ago

A mathematics teacher has been honoured online by netizens for creating a rap song for his young students to learn about decimals during mathematics class.

US singer Halsey welcomes first child with boyfriend Alev Aydin

US singer Halsey welcomes first child with boyfriend Alev Aydin

World

5 years ago

American musician Halsey and her film writer boyfriend Alev Aydin have welcomed their first child Ender Ridley Aydin and she shared the good news via Instagram.

Crime suspect arrested after making inquiry about reward money on police Facebook post

Crime suspect arrested after making inquiry about reward money on police Facebook post

World

5 years ago

The Tusla Police Department posted the images of the suspect on Facebook and she commented on the post. She was arrested and her bond set at KSh 54 million.

Sisters inherit mum’s entrepreneurial skills, own all McDonald’s restaurants in their city

Sisters inherit mum’s entrepreneurial skills, own all McDonald’s restaurants in their city

World

5 years ago

Nicole Enearu and Kerri Harper-Howie are black sisters who own and operate 18 McDonald's restaurants in Compton. They credit their mother for the success..

Keyshia Cole’s mum Frankie Lons passes away on her birthday aged 61

Keyshia Cole’s mum Frankie Lons passes away on her birthday aged 61

World

5 years ago

Keyshia Cole's mother Frankie Lons was reportedly celebrating her birthday on Sunday when she had a drug overdose and passed. She was a recovering drug addict.

Woman goes for daughter's birthday cake, finds touching note from stranger who paid for it

Woman goes for daughter's birthday cake, finds touching note from stranger who paid for it

World

5 years ago

A woman got the surprise of her life when she arrived to pick a cake ordered for her daughter's 8th birthday. A grieving woman dropped her a touching note.

Maryn Blignaut