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

Lady, 27, narrates how her boyfriend married another woman & still dates her

Lady, 27, narrates how her boyfriend married another woman & still dates her

World

4 years ago

CNN journalist Van Jones Says Kim Kardashian will be an unbelievable great lawyer

CNN journalist Van Jones Says Kim Kardashian will be an unbelievable great lawyer

World

4 years ago

My spiritual powers bring them back each time they run away, polygamist says

My spiritual powers bring them back each time they run away, polygamist says

World

4 years ago

2 Boys break the internet with freestyle as they drop bars like famous rappers

2 Boys break the internet with freestyle as they drop bars like famous rappers

World

4 years ago

Young lady celebrates buying her first car with emotional message, inspires many

Young lady celebrates buying her first car with emotional message, inspires many

World

4 years ago

Man set to "marry out" 10 of his children on same day, causes stir online

Man set to "marry out" 10 of his children on same day, causes stir online

World

4 years ago

Man shares sweet note he found in little daughter's school book about her dreams

Man shares sweet note he found in little daughter's school book about her dreams

World

4 years ago

A man Ron Malhotra has stunned the internet with an interesting note he found in the school book of his daughter in Nursery one about her future aspiration.

Lady graduates a year early, gathers A+ in all courses, gets set for her masters

Lady graduates a year early, gathers A+ in all courses, gets set for her masters

World

4 years ago

A young lady has got people talking on social media after graduating with distinction from the higher institution. Tuana Yazici said she graduated a year early.

Humble photo of billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, wife melts hearts

Humble photo of billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, wife melts hearts

World

4 years ago

Many people showed Zuckerberg and Chan much love on their wedding anniversary as the couple shared a foggy snap to celebrate the day. He said they went hiking.

Man shares inspiring career success, photos trailed by massive reactions

Man shares inspiring career success, photos trailed by massive reactions

World

4 years ago

A Nigerian man has inspired the internet with his success story. The man had granted a local interview years ago but was captured doing same in oxford in 2020.

Mom suffering from cancer painfully tells 6-year-old son she will die soon

Mom suffering from cancer painfully tells 6-year-old son she will die soon

World

4 years ago

The hardest thing Nadia Chaudhri has had to do was not accepting that she has Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer, but telling her six-year-old son that she will soon die.

Engineer develops drone that can detect criminals in any forest

Engineer develops drone that can detect criminals in any forest

World

4 years ago

A Nigerian robotic engineer has come up with a drone that can help identify criminal elements in forests. He said its production will create opportunities.

Heartwarming moment father bathes his newborn baby, videos goes viral

Heartwarming moment father bathes his newborn baby, videos goes viral

World

4 years ago

Videos showing a father taking a good care of his son while he bathed and dressed him up have got many people applauding his nursing skill on social media.

Woman puts smiles on poor pupils' faces as she buys them shoes

Woman puts smiles on poor pupils' faces as she buys them shoes

World

4 years ago

A generous woman has got people talking with her kind gesture after buying shoes for poor pupils who trek miles barefooted. Many people have commended her.

Queen Elizabeth II saddened after death of puppy gifted to her

Queen Elizabeth II saddened after death of puppy gifted to her

World

4 years ago

Queen Elizabeth II's dead dog, Fergus, was one of two gifted to her by her son, Prince Andrew, to help lift her spirits after her husband was hospitalised.

Maryn Blignaut