Council Awards

Mackie Awards

The Mackie Awards are a series of three different awards given to Navy League councils for their communications efforts. Each of the awards are judged by a basic set of initial screening criteria and additionally are scored based on criteria that views the quality of work. Below is some information on how the Mackie Awards are judged.

The Mackie Awards are submitted and judged based on a council’s annual report submission.

Awards Criteria

All Mackie awards will go through an initial judging criteria. Any nominations that do not adhere to the below will be disqualified.

• Councils must be clearly and correctly identified as a council of the Navy League of the United States (not U.S. Navy League or other iterative of the official name, not a “chapter,” etc.).
• Councils must respect the 501c3 status of the Navy League by not having partisan political commentary or graphics.
• Contact information must be provided.
• Only the current eagle and anchor version of the headquarters logo can be used. It cannot be combined with past versions of the logo.
• The Marine Corps seal must not be used on websites or in newsletters, per legal requirements from that service branch. 

Newsletter

• Newsletters must be published a minimum of four times per calendar year.
• Criteria include quality of writing, readability and layout, timeliness of information, variety of subject matter, good use of photos and captions, and proper spelling and grammar.

Website

• Council websites must contain a link back to the headquarters homepage.
• Council websites must link out to each of the four sea services.
• Websites must have been in use for at least part of the judging year.
• Websites must not undergo any major revisions between award submission and judging.
• Websites must contain the official Navy League headquarters logo in the header of the site. It cannot be combined with past versions of the logo.
• Other criteria include original content, ease of reading, organization and navigation, timely information, visually attractive design, proper spelling and grammar, working links, mobile friendliness, use of a clear mission statement, and a link back to the Navy League headquarters website.

Communications (Social Media)

• The social property being judged must have been in use for at least part of the judging year.
• Other criteria include frequency, quality of posts, timeliness, subject matter, use of imagery, original content, and use of methods of engagement (ex. hashtags, links, etc.).
• For social media, submitting multiple channels does not equal more points. Judges review all sites submitted and take an average score for all social media properties.

Judging Rules

Each category of the Mackie Awards is judged on its own merits, with each award graded on the above criteria. Each of these items receives a score of between one and five. Then, each member of the judging committee’s scores are tallied and then the following grading curve is applied:

Top score: Platinum
Top score minus 10: Gold
Top score minus 20: Silver
Top score minus 30: Bronze