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

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

4 years ago

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

4 years ago

US singer Halsey welcomes first child with boyfriend Alev Aydin

US singer Halsey welcomes first child with boyfriend Alev Aydin

World

4 years ago

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

4 years ago

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

4 years ago

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

4 years ago

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

4 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.

Man shows off the huge tomatoes harvested from his farm, people react

Man shows off the huge tomatoes harvested from his farm, people react

World

4 years ago

A farmer has stunned many people on the internet as he showcased the massive tomatoes harvested recorded on his farm. He said they are ready for the market.

Emotional moment kind man buys homeless single father hotel room for a week, gifts him R14k

Emotional moment kind man buys homeless single father hotel room for a week, gifts him R14k

World

4 years ago

A single father James Moss who had recently moved to a new city got the surprise of his life when a stranger gave him N411k. The man also got a hotel room rent.

Man rescued by Good Samaritan after driver hit him on highway & ran away

Man rescued by Good Samaritan after driver hit him on highway & ran away

World

4 years ago

Osman Ameyaw Jnr, a Facebook user, saved a gentleman who was hit by a driver on the Achimota overhead N1 highway and left to his fate. The man is at Korle Bu

18-year-old man to become youngest person in space after securing slot in Jeff Bezos's rocket

18-year-old man to become youngest person in space after securing slot in Jeff Bezos's rocket

World

4 years ago

Daemen managed to secure the position after the original R373 million winner of Blue Origin's auction for the spot chose a later mission "due to scheduling.

Lionel Messi holding Copa America title becomes most liked photo on Instagram with 19.9m likes

Lionel Messi holding Copa America title becomes most liked photo on Instagram with 19.9m likes

World

4 years ago

Leo Messi doesn't get tired of breaking records. The image of him which he uploaded after winning the Copa America has become the most liked photo on Instagram.

Britney Spears calls out people close to her for not showing when she was down

Britney Spears calls out people close to her for not showing when she was down

World

4 years ago

Musician Britney Spears highlighted the issue just moments after her mother and sister posted supportive messages to social media. Read more on TUKO.co.ke.

Pastor reveals how chicken can be used to expose fake partners in relationships, stirs reactions

Pastor reveals how chicken can be used to expose fake partners in relationships, stirs reactions

World

4 years ago

A pastor, known as Samuel Ekundayo, has shared the best way to know if one's partner is pretending or being real in a relationship. He said it involves chicken.

Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey defends singer after video of him ‘harassing’ her in public went viral

Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey defends singer after video of him ‘harassing’ her in public went viral

World

4 years ago

Justin Bieber's wife shared a photo of the couple in a lovey-dovey moment as she reminisced about the previous weekend. She said she was "surrounded by love".

Maryn Blignaut