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

Talk show host Kelly Clarkson requests to be legally divorced from estranged hubby

Talk show host Kelly Clarkson requests to be legally divorced from estranged hubby

World

5 years ago

Actress Scarlett Johansson expecting 1st child with husband Colin Jost

Actress Scarlett Johansson expecting 1st child with husband Colin Jost

World

5 years ago

7 Hollywood celebs who decided against being parents, reasons behind their decisions

7 Hollywood celebs who decided against being parents, reasons behind their decisions

World

5 years ago

Meet the genius who has won 8 scholarships worth R3.1m since secondary school

Meet the genius who has won 8 scholarships worth R3.1m since secondary school

World

5 years ago

Baby gives beautiful performance of popular song, handles the mic like a pro in viral video

Baby gives beautiful performance of popular song, handles the mic like a pro in viral video

World

5 years ago

Gwen Stefani, Hubby Blake Shelton finally share magical photos from their recent wedding

Gwen Stefani, Hubby Blake Shelton finally share magical photos from their recent wedding

World

5 years ago

Disabled teen, 13, whose mom carried her around finally gets a wheelchair

Disabled teen, 13, whose mom carried her around finally gets a wheelchair

South Africa

5 years ago

A 13-year-old local teen, Yamkela Mafiyane, is overcome with joy after finally receiving a wheelchair. She opened up to Briefly News about the amazing gift.

Boss catches cleaner taking selfie in his office, encourages him to follow dreams

Boss catches cleaner taking selfie in his office, encourages him to follow dreams

World

5 years ago

A Nigerian man known as Oluwanishola Akeju has inspired one of his staff, a cleaner, after he saw him taking selfies in his office during his working hours.

Actress Julia Roberts posts rare photo with hubby Daniel Moder on 19th wedding anniversary

Actress Julia Roberts posts rare photo with hubby Daniel Moder on 19th wedding anniversary

World

5 years ago

Actress and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts recently shared a lovely photo of her and husband Daniel Moder as they celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary.

Couple who met at age 12 still together after 18 years; share then & now photos

Couple who met at age 12 still together after 18 years; share then & now photos

World

5 years ago

A beautiful couple have been together for 18 years. They met at age 12. Calling themselves The Kab Family, they shared amazing throwback & current photos online

Covid-19: Prince William's wife goes into self-isolation after exposure to coronavirus

Covid-19: Prince William's wife goes into self-isolation after exposure to coronavirus

World

5 years ago

Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton was forced into self-isolation, on Friday after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

Kind man praised for braving the rain to fix young boy's broken bicycle

Kind man praised for braving the rain to fix young boy's broken bicycle

World

5 years ago

The Black man did not mind the rain and did not leave the boy alone in trouble before fixing the broken bike. He was praised online by many people for his deed.

Couple who met on Facebook get married, screenshots of their 1st chat showed the lady DMed him

Couple who met on Facebook get married, screenshots of their 1st chat showed the lady DMed him

World

5 years ago

An Igbo couple who met online have stunned the internet with their beautiful wedding pictures. Their first chat showed that the lady reached out to him first.

Nick Cannon now father of 7 after girlfriend Alyssa Scott welcomes baby boy

Nick Cannon now father of 7 after girlfriend Alyssa Scott welcomes baby boy

World

5 years ago

Nick Cannons lover Alyssa Scott delivered their son a couple of weeks back but kept fans in the dark until now. This makes Nick a father of three newborn sons.

Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck display enviable romance during stroll in the Hamptons

Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck display enviable romance during stroll in the Hamptons

World

5 years ago

Ben Affleck and lover Jennifer Lopez enjoyed their time away from the kids with a stroll in the Hamptons. The couple appeared to be in a deep conversation.

Maryn Blignaut