In a heartfelt tribute to the late Mark Gardner, a much-loved member of the AJ Bell media team and writer on Shares magazine who sadly passed away in 2022, AJ Bell established the Mark Gardner Award for Journalism in 2024. This award aims to support up-and-coming journalists by offering a cash prize and the opportunity for the winning article to be published in Shares.
The inaugural recipient, Mia Willemsen, a third-year BA Hons Broadcast Journalism student at the University of Salford, was awarded for her outstanding writing skills. Her winning article provided a personal account of living with ADHD, impressing judges with its unique voice and insightful perspective.
This year, the Gardner family has generously increased the prize fund by an additional £4,000, bringing the total award to £5,000. This substantial contribution enhances the award’s impact, and provides even greater support to young journalists. The upcoming award ceremony is scheduled for the 8th May, where the winner will be celebrated for their work.
The competition invites students to write a 300-to-400-word article exploring the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the financial world. Participants are encouraged to consider how AI might affect personal financial management, their current use of AI in finances, their excitement about AI’s financial potential, and the risks associated with AI’s application to money.
Entries will be evaluated by a panel of journalists and PR executives. This award not only commemorates Mark Gardner’s legacy but also exemplifies AJ Bell’s commitment to nurturing new talent in journalism.
Tom Sieber, editor of Shares, says: ‘We are delighted to partner with University of Salford for this award and it is a fitting legacy to Mark, and a testament to the generosity of his family, that the prize will make such a significant difference to the winner.’
The University of Salford takes great pride in its students’ achievements and hugely values the support from industry partners like AJ Bell. Collaborations like this provide brilliant opportunities for students to showcase their talents and gain recognition in their respective fields.