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

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

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

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

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

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

5 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

5 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

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.

Maryn Blignaut