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

Mzansi unites to pay fees of student who hails from poor background

Mzansi unites to pay fees of student who hails from poor background

South Africa

5 years ago

Heritage Day Opinion: The importance of nationhood and culture in SA

Heritage Day Opinion: The importance of nationhood and culture in SA

People

5 years ago

Man flees from wedding after lady slapped him with R175k marriage bill

Man flees from wedding after lady slapped him with R175k marriage bill

People

5 years ago

Mboweni's cooking roasted, again: "Another pilchards stew gone wrong"

Mboweni's cooking roasted, again: "Another pilchards stew gone wrong"

People

5 years ago

Teen invents alerting device to help protect women against kidnappers

Teen invents alerting device to help protect women against kidnappers

South Africa

5 years ago

Unashamed man proudly shows off 1-bedroom home, gives SA the feels

Unashamed man proudly shows off 1-bedroom home, gives SA the feels

South Africa

5 years ago

Entrepreneur spoils himself with R1.2 million gift for 29th birthday

Entrepreneur spoils himself with R1.2 million gift for 29th birthday

World

5 years ago

Skinny Sbu has gifted himself a birthday present with a massive price tag. The entrepreneur splashed a whopping R1.2 million on a machine for his 29th birthday.

Exclusive: Meet the female engineer, 26, who is building her own house

Exclusive: Meet the female engineer, 26, who is building her own house

South Africa

5 years ago

Zama Philisiwe Zungu is the kind of young woman who is proving that the female gender has what it takes to succeed in an industry that is dominated by men.

Meet the beautiful lady who became Africa's youngest lawmaker at 19

Meet the beautiful lady who became Africa's youngest lawmaker at 19

World

5 years ago

Proscovia Alengot Oromait made history in the year 2012 when she became the youngest lawmaker in Africa and the second youngest in the world at the age of 19.

SA gifts R15k to humiliated petrol attendant, Nedbank vows to match it

SA gifts R15k to humiliated petrol attendant, Nedbank vows to match it

South Africa

5 years ago

The petrol attendant, Sphamandla Wiseman Ndabezitha, who was humiliated recently has received a whopping R15 000 in donations and the amount is still climbing.

Honest man, 81, who rejected R100 million bribe gets rewarded

Honest man, 81, who rejected R100 million bribe gets rewarded

World

5 years ago

Dr Olufemi Lalude, the first managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company (SNEPCO), is a man of integrity who rejected a R100m bribe.

Khitsane's sister celebrates her birthday: "Rakgadi of the nation"

Khitsane's sister celebrates her birthday: "Rakgadi of the nation"

People

5 years ago

Semali Moeti went viral online following her bizarre speech at her brother, Lebohang Khitsane's funeral. She celebrated her birthday with a message to herself.

Tobeka Madiba Zuma living her best life amid rumours of marital woes

Tobeka Madiba Zuma living her best life amid rumours of marital woes

People

5 years ago

Tobeka Madiba Zuma is not letting Jacob Zuma's absence ruin her life. The former first lady is enjoying her life and she is detailing every fun moment online.

Godfrey Baguma: Guy who won "Ugliest man" contest marries 3rd wife

Godfrey Baguma: Guy who won "Ugliest man" contest marries 3rd wife

World

5 years ago

Ugandan comedian Godfrey Baguma aka Ssebabi who won the world's ugliest man competition recently said I do to his third wife at a colourful wedding ceremony.

Nothing damaged here: Stunning SA ladies rock their natural hair

Nothing damaged here: Stunning SA ladies rock their natural hair

People

5 years ago

SA women shared photos of their stunning natural hair under #Racismmustfall after Clicks labeled African hair as 'dry and damaged'. We looked at the photos.

Maryn Blignaut