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

Fed-up man plants trees in potholes, forces municipality to fix them

Fed-up man plants trees in potholes, forces municipality to fix them

South Africa

5 years ago

Clip shows school girl driving bus while driver drinks beer, SA reacts

Clip shows school girl driving bus while driver drinks beer, SA reacts

Education

5 years ago

Hijacking gone wrong: Clip shows motorist shooting at thugs, SA reacts

Hijacking gone wrong: Clip shows motorist shooting at thugs, SA reacts

People

5 years ago

Schoolgirl escapes kidnappers by jumping out of moving car, SA reacts

Schoolgirl escapes kidnappers by jumping out of moving car, SA reacts

South Africa

5 years ago

South Africans flex their amazing village mansions, post photos online

South Africans flex their amazing village mansions, post photos online

World

5 years ago

Woman lists her amazing academic achievements and Mzansi is proud

Woman lists her amazing academic achievements and Mzansi is proud

South Africa

5 years ago

SABC wants Netflix and DStv to collect TV licences, Mzansi reacts

SABC wants Netflix and DStv to collect TV licences, Mzansi reacts

People

5 years ago

SABC is desperately trying to generate money and now wants the government to enact rules that will compel DStv and Netflix to collect TV Licences on its behalf.

Orlando Pirates signs Richard Ofori, Maritzburg United boss confirms

Orlando Pirates signs Richard Ofori, Maritzburg United boss confirms

South Africa

5 years ago

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia has confirmed that the Orlando Pirates have made an offer to sign goalkeeper Richard Ofori & that they've accepted it.

Man details experience of Cape Town earthquake, SA laughing out loud

Man details experience of Cape Town earthquake, SA laughing out loud

South Africa

5 years ago

A social media user made a hilarious video of himself detailing what the earthquake in Cape Town last month felt like and South Africans were left in stitches.

Mom and daughter goals: Woman and her little girl get matching whips

Mom and daughter goals: Woman and her little girl get matching whips

World

5 years ago

Social media influencer Miss Shozi bought herself a new Mercedes and decided to get a matching toy car for her little daughter. South Africans were inspired.

Goapele trends in Mzansi: US R&B singer has ties to South Africa

Goapele trends in Mzansi: US R&B singer has ties to South Africa

South Africa

5 years ago

Goapele Mohlabane is an American R&B singer who has ties to Mzansi. However, South Africans were disappointed in how she pronounced her name on social media.

Daughter of the year: Young woman gifts parents a stunning mansion

Daughter of the year: Young woman gifts parents a stunning mansion

People

5 years ago

A bring young woman, Hlelile Mbanda, gifted her parents the ultimate gift. She built a mansion for her mom and dad in a heart of a rural area of Maphephetheni.

Sadio Mane: Footballer owns car collection worth staggering R11m

Sadio Mane: Footballer owns car collection worth staggering R11m

World

5 years ago

Sadio Mane is a big fan of luxury cars and despite his modest public appearance most times, the Senegalese star has a stylish garage with cars worth more than $

Funny placards inspire Good Samaritan to buy a house for jobless dad

Funny placards inspire Good Samaritan to buy a house for jobless dad

South Africa

5 years ago

A dad of three lost his job as a warehouse packer because of the Covid-19 pandemic and he took to the streets of Cape Town with hilarious signs to make money.

Al Ahly: Cavin Johnson unveiled as Pitso Mosimane's assistant coach

Al Ahly: Cavin Johnson unveiled as Pitso Mosimane's assistant coach

Sports

5 years ago

Cavin Johnson has joined the former Sundowns coach at the Egyptian giants Al Ahly. The 61-year-old former Stars coach will act as Mosimane's second in command.

Maryn Blignaut