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

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

5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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

5 years ago

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

5 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

5 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".

Teen raises over R538k for kids with cancer after shaving off huge afro

Teen raises over R538k for kids with cancer after shaving off huge afro

World

5 years ago

CNN reported that Kieran started growing his hair while in the eighth grade, moments after losing one of his friends to brain cancer. Read more on Briefly News.

Meghan Markle, hubby Prince Harry reportedly working on Netflix show

Meghan Markle, hubby Prince Harry reportedly working on Netflix show

World

5 years ago

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are working on their second film project dubbed Pearl. This is an animated series that will be produced by Archewell Productions.

Meet Katlego: Young man inspires hope in his community, set tongues wagging

Meet Katlego: Young man inspires hope in his community, set tongues wagging

People

5 years ago

Katlego has managed to harvest nearly 3000 cabbages, as well as frequently providing hands-on agricultural practice for the learners at his old primary school.

Rihanna reportedly renting out her beautiful Beverly Hills mansion for R1.1 million a month

Rihanna reportedly renting out her beautiful Beverly Hills mansion for R1.1 million a month

World

5 years ago

Rihanna reportedly bought the house at R187 million late last year. It has five bedrooms, a nice pool, spa, fire pit, open-court yard and seven bathrooms.

Emmanuel Kotia: Military man who gives to needy promoted major-general in army

Emmanuel Kotia: Military man who gives to needy promoted major-general in army

World

5 years ago

Ghanaian military officer Emmanuel Wekem Kotia has been newly promoted to become a Major-General. This is one of highest-rankings in Ghana. He gives to needy.

Billionaire businessman leaves earth, travels to space, will study environment before asking people to pay

Billionaire businessman leaves earth, travels to space, will study environment before asking people to pay

World

5 years ago

Richard Branson has landed in space. In a video he shared on his social media pages, the crew members were visibly happy as they moved around inside the craft.

Emotional dad reunites with son who was snatched 24 years ago: "My baby"

Emotional dad reunites with son who was snatched 24 years ago: "My baby"

World

5 years ago

Guo Gangtang is emotional after reuniting with his son who was snatched 24 years ago. The son was kidnapped by human traffickers in front of their home aged 2.

Maryn Blignaut