Donald M. Mackie Awards Submission Instructions
2011 Submission Deadlines
Newsletter: December 31, 2011
Website: December 31, 2011
Newsletter Guidelines
- Size Categories
- Small Council – no more than 125 members
- Medium Council – 126 - 499 members
- Large – no less than 500 members
- Each size category has a first, second and third place winner
- Judging
- Newsletters are judged on the basis of how well the editor works with his/her available resources
- Criteria:
- Frequency (must be issued a minimum of four times a year)
- Quality of writing
- Readability & layout
- Timeliness
- Subject matter
- Visibility in the community
- Use of photographs
- Distribution
- Award Contender Checklist
- Format
- Do you have a masthead?
- Is the editor's name readily visible?
- Do you have an issue and volume number?
- Is the editor and/or council's address easy to find?
- Do you have page numbers if there are several pages?
- Do your headlines stand out from the rest of the copy?
- Is your type large enough to be read easily?
- Are your newsletter’s type sizing and fonts consistent?
- Is your newsletter’s format consistent (number of columns)?
- Are articles and graphics well-aligned?
- Content
- Are your articles short and to the point?
- Are your articles well written and interesting?
- Is your writing grammatically correct?
- Are there any typos?
- Does someone proofread and edit your newsletter?
- Is there a variety of news from your council, the state, the region, and National Headquarters?
- Do you use headquarters-provided Legislative Reports?
- Do you have articles about the sea services?
- Do you have articles about all the good things your Navy League Council is doing in the community?
- Do you include pertinent quotes?
- Do your headlines grab the reader?
- Is information easy to find?
- Do your articles follow a logical progression?
- Graphics
- Is your newsletter cluttered with graphics and photos?
- Is your artwork interesting and relevant?
- Are your photographs hi-resolution, proportional and visible?
- Do you use negative space?
- Distribution
- Do you have advertisers?
- Do you distribute your newsletter to influential non-members such as:
- Mayor
- Board of Supervisors
- Local libraries, high schools, colleges and universities
- Active duty sea service people – especially adopted ships, units or facility personnel
- Radio, television and newspaper editors
- Potential members
- Community leaders and members of your congressional delegation
- Do you provide extra copies to featured people?
- Do you send a copy to National Headquarters?
- Size Categories
- Small Council – no more than 125 members
- Medium Council – 126 - 499 members
- Large – no less than 500 members
- Each size category has a first, second and third place winner
- Judging
- Websites are judged based on an initial screening by the Navy League’s Information Technology Committee (ITC) and a final judging administered by National Headquarters.
- Entries will be judged on the Initial Screening Criteria and Web Site Evaluation Criteria
- Procedure
- Councils will submit a request for consideration that inclucds the Submission Requirements (see below) and Initial Screening Criteria form.
- The Information Technology Committee (ITC) will review these materials and determine whether initial requirements are met.
- ITC will report the results to Navy League Headquarters, who will proceed with the judging process.
- The Senior Director of Communications will enlist the appropriate judges to evaluate entries.
- Award Contender Checklist
- Does the website have credible, original content relevant to the local council, local sea service activities and regional or national Navy League goals and activities?
- Does the website engage the user?
- Is the website memorable?
- Does the website have clearly defined goals?
- Is the website easy to read?
- Is the website well organized and easy to navigate?
- Does the website have valuable, timely information?
- Is the formatting/design consistent?
- Is the website visually attractive?
- Does the website have proper spelling and grammar?
- Does the website load quickly?
- Does the website use special effects to add value?
- Do the links work?
- Does the website build user loyalty?
- Submission Requirements
- Name of council/region/area
- Council membership as of December 1
- Title of website entry
- Site URL (http://)
- Name of webmaster
- Email (council contact)
Submission Instructions
- Newsletter
- Send a minimum of four newsletter issues published in the calendar year.
- Electronic (in .doc/.docx or .pdf format) or paper copies are acceptable.
- Please include 2 copies of each issue.
- Indicate your council size, the name of your newsletter editor and who receives it in addition to Council members.
- Mail submissions to (must be postmarked by December 31):
-
Navy League of the United States
Director of Public Relations
Attn: Mackie Award – Newsletter Submission
2300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22201 - Email submissions to:
-
publicrelations@navyleague.org
Subject: Mackie Award - Newsletter Submission
- Website
- Websites entered must have been in general use for at least part of the calendar year.
- Websites must be available for viewing in January following the award year.
- Please do not make design modifications to your website after submission until the awards are announced. Content updates are permitted.
- Email submissions to:
-
publicrelations@navyleague.org
Subject: Mackie Award - Website Submission
