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

Proudly SA company partners with Google to create its own smartphone

Proudly SA company partners with Google to create its own smartphone

People

4 years ago

Husband goes to university for cute photoshoot with young student wife as they welcome baby

Husband goes to university for cute photoshoot with young student wife as they welcome baby

World

4 years ago

Acrobatic man turns himself into a "car" and rolls across the road in video

Acrobatic man turns himself into a "car" and rolls across the road in video

World

4 years ago

Homeless artist Richard Hutchins gets Hollywood offer after his viral video

Homeless artist Richard Hutchins gets Hollywood offer after his viral video

World

4 years ago

Medical students quickly save a woman’s life during flight, many praise them

Medical students quickly save a woman’s life during flight, many praise them

World

4 years ago

Emotional moment shows woman, 50, who gave birth for the 1st time thanking God

Emotional moment shows woman, 50, who gave birth for the 1st time thanking God

World

4 years ago

Church goes crypto, directs 'partners' to make payments to its Bitcoin wallet

Church goes crypto, directs 'partners' to make payments to its Bitcoin wallet

World

4 years ago

A church has gone the way of crypto in receiving money. The church now has a Bitcoin wallet. In a viral picture, the wallet address was seen on the tv screen.

Young lady who lost her parents while she was in school finally becomes a graduate

Young lady who lost her parents while she was in school finally becomes a graduate

World

4 years ago

A young Nigerian lady did not allow the death of her parents to dampen her drive in getting a university education. She recently graduated amid wild praise.

Man makes beautiful motorbike and lion sculptures using chocolates, videos go viral

Man makes beautiful motorbike and lion sculptures using chocolates, videos go viral

World

4 years ago

A man has caused huge stir on social media with his powerful sculpting skills. The talented man made a life-size lion and motorbike sculpture using chocolates.

Billionaire Michiel Le Roux ditched a career in law before founding Capitec

Billionaire Michiel Le Roux ditched a career in law before founding Capitec

People

4 years ago

Michiel le Roux followed a different path than the one he set out for himself and it paid off. Today, the 71-year-old is one of South Africa's richest men.

Lady goes on knees to beg cop who arrested her boyfriend, turns out to be a proposal set-up

Lady goes on knees to beg cop who arrested her boyfriend, turns out to be a proposal set-up

World

4 years ago

A girlfriend went on her knees to plead with a security personnel who surprisingly arrested her boyfriend while they ate out only to find out it was staged.

Old Town Road singer Lil Nas poses in lady's strapless jumpsuit during photoshoot

Old Town Road singer Lil Nas poses in lady's strapless jumpsuit during photoshoot

World

4 years ago

The American music star, famed for his Old Town Road jam on Thursday, shared a slide three photos of himself on Instagram in a move that got the world talking.

Barefoot man gets attention during church service with his dance moves in video

Barefoot man gets attention during church service with his dance moves in video

World

4 years ago

A unnamed Nigerian man has got much attention on social media as he bust amazing dance moves during a church service. Many people were surprised by the energy.

Ne-Yo, wife Crystal Smith welcome baby girl: “My world is finally complete”

Ne-Yo, wife Crystal Smith welcome baby girl: “My world is finally complete”

World

4 years ago

Crystal Smith shared lovely messages on her Instagram to confirm the arrival of her and hubby Ne-Yo's first daughter, noting that she was born weeks early.

Athenkosi Quku: Meet the man who showers the homeless with blessings

Athenkosi Quku: Meet the man who showers the homeless with blessings

People

4 years ago

Athenkosi Quku is a young man with a heart of gold. He used his own money to start an NPO that benefits poor people who have been left with nowhere else to go.

Maryn Blignaut