From the editor's desk: So why's it called 'Pentagram,' anyway?

By James Goodwin, Pentagram EditorJune 5, 2015

From the editor's desk: So why's it called 'Pentagram,' anyway?
The Pentagram News, one of several newspapers that were precursors to today's Pentagram newspaper, was billed as an "independent newspaper" and was published weekly from 1949 to 1971 before being replaced by the MDW Post. Today's Pentagram is derived... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

What's in a name?

For a newspaper, everything: That large, bold banner bearing the newspaper's name is often the most noticeable portion of a newspaper, serving as both an attention grabber for potential readers and as a familiar, distinguishable characteristic to repeat readers.

For the Pentagram, our publication's name is more than a banner - it is a reflection of more than 60 years' worth of news reporting, documenting everyday life and significant happenings in the Military District of Washington beginning just after World War II, spanning through the Korean and Cold Wars to present day.

Originally published in 1949 as The Fort Myer Post, the newspaper served those who worked at or lived on any installation within the Military District of Washington, according to a look at Pentagram archives. This paper was published in Arlington, Va. and billed as an "independent newspaper" that was "published by D.J. Arone, a private individual, in no way connected with the Department of the Army," according to one of the earliest editions published in January 1957. This was the true precursor to today's Pentagram newspaper as it was published by a civilian contractor at no cost to readers; the advertising in today's Pentagram similarly covers production costs. That means the paper is produced at no cost to the U.S. Government.

Later, the paper branched into two papers. The MDW Post, a monthly that ran from 1971 to at least 1975 (official archives of the paper from 1976 to 1983 are not available), replaced The Fort Myer Post because of both a change in leadership and "in accordance with the consolidation of the Military District of Washington," according to an editorial note on the inside of the Jan. 26, 1971, edition of The Fort Myer Post.

Additionally, a second publication began publishing just a few years behind The Fort Myer Post: The Pentagram News. The paper was later published weekly every Thursday by another private entity, The Premier Publishing Company. The paper cost five cents per issue in 1957.

In 1983, the word "news" was dropped from the title and the rest is history.

But what exactly does the word "Pentagram" mean? This is a question we get now and then, so it is fitting to provide an answer. According to a mission statement document, the name is derived from the Greek word "Pente," meaning "five," in reference to the Pentagon. The word "gram" is from the ancient Greek suffix "gramma," meaning something written, drawn or otherwise noted.

Today we have a weekly circulation of 24,000, which includes the National Capital Region and the Pentagon. Also notable is the fact that we are a "joint" publication, serving the communities of all three portions of JBM-HH: Fort Myer, Fort McNair and Henderson Hall, since 2009.

For those who were curious as to the history of the Pentagram, I hope this has helped shed a bit of light on the topic.

The Pentagram is truly a historic and unique newspaper serving a historic and unique geographical region nestled next to the nation's capital. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself: You can review old copies of the Pentagram as well as its forerunners at the JBM-HH Library. The library contains bound archives of most issues dating back to 1949. The library is located in room 120 in Bldg. 417 at the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH. The library is open Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is closed Fridays and Saturdays.

While we certainly have no plans on changing our name, we are always seeking ways to evolve the paper to meet the information needs of our readership. As always, I encourage you - our readers - to tell us what you think about today's paper: Are we publishing what you like to read? What news or information are we not publishing that you would like to see in print? Is there something we can do better? And of course we relish learning about what we are doing right, too. So, if there is a particular type of story or portion of the newspaper that you enjoy and would simply like to see more of, let us know. Feel free to reach me at: pentagramjbmhh@yahoo.com.