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

SA gets its first satanic church, which includes baptism and weddings

SA gets its first satanic church, which includes baptism and weddings

South Africa

6 years ago

Halala: Woman, 29, with no background in agriculture starts farming

Halala: Woman, 29, with no background in agriculture starts farming

People

6 years ago

Halala: Meet the entrepreneur whose company turns over millions a year

Halala: Meet the entrepreneur whose company turns over millions a year

People

6 years ago

Entrepreneur converts township home into booming restaurant, inspires

Entrepreneur converts township home into booming restaurant, inspires

People

6 years ago

Armed gang dressed in PPE gear targets KwaZulu-Natal pension pay point

Armed gang dressed in PPE gear targets KwaZulu-Natal pension pay point

People

6 years ago

Melania Trump's reaction to husband asking her to smile goes viral

Melania Trump's reaction to husband asking her to smile goes viral

People

6 years ago

Influencer Thickleeyonce lands gig with Rihanna's Savage x Fenty line

Influencer Thickleeyonce lands gig with Rihanna's Savage x Fenty line

People

6 years ago

Thickleeyonce took to social media to share some exciting news with her followers - her US agency managed to get her on the Savage x Fenty influencer list.

Remembering Emmanuel 'Scara' Ngobese 10 years after his death

Remembering Emmanuel 'Scara' Ngobese 10 years after his death

Sports

6 years ago

On this day in 2010, South Africa lost one of its most talented footballers - Emmanuel 'Scara' Ngobese. Briefly.co.za took a quick look at his life and career.

Staff donate baby clothes and supplies to desperate new father

Staff donate baby clothes and supplies to desperate new father

People

6 years ago

A father broke down in tears when he could not buy clothes and baby supplies for his newborn baby. So, PnP staff members pulled together and helped the dad out.

Man proudly shows off the 1-bedroom house he built, inspires Mzansi

Man proudly shows off the 1-bedroom house he built, inspires Mzansi

People

6 years ago

An industrious home-owner shared his humble one-bedroom home that he built while striving to improve his living conditions. His pride was echoed by many online.

Video shows locals looting bottle store in broad daylight, SA reacts

Video shows locals looting bottle store in broad daylight, SA reacts

South Africa

6 years ago

A video has gone viral on social media showing locals looting a bottle store amid the ban on alcohol during the 21-lockdown and SA had a lot to say about it.

Halala: Woman used R389 to start successful agriculture business

Halala: Woman used R389 to start successful agriculture business

People

6 years ago

An Mzansi woman used money her hubby gave her for her hair to buy seeds. In just two years, she grew it into a successful business and now employs 40 people.

Meet the doctor, 26, who died while trying to fight the coronavirus

Meet the doctor, 26, who died while trying to fight the coronavirus

People

6 years ago

A Pakistan doctor, Usama Riaz, has been hailed a hero after he lost his life while fighting the novel coronavirus. Dr Riaz was only 26 years old when he passed.

Mzansi in awe of man's creativity: "Defeat coronavirus at taxi ranks"

Mzansi in awe of man's creativity: "Defeat coronavirus at taxi ranks"

People

6 years ago

A man has wowed South Africans with his initiative. He used a metal bin and turned it into a portable washing sink. Mzansi felt we needed this in taxi ranks.

Coronavirus: Pastor Mboro says God told him about the outbreak in 2019

Coronavirus: Pastor Mboro says God told him about the outbreak in 2019

South Africa

6 years ago

Mboro said he got a message from God last year that there will be an outbreak in 2020. The infamous self-proclaimed prophet opened up about the coronavirus.

Maryn Blignaut