-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q4gPUR7kZDSF/M7I6h9odcrZW673JbZ1jrpiQ2VRFa0yPvXIqJ6S3rmjTFmAPtRS
 najSXOaK14UG7lEConnE+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001163977-01-500004.txt : 20020413
<SEC-HEADER>0001163977-01-500004.hdr.sgml : 20020413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001163977-01-500004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20011219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20011220
<REPORTING-OWNER>

COMPANY DATA:	
	COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOTSON JOHN L JR
	CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001163977
	STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
<RELATIONSHIP>DIRECTOR

FILING VALUES:
	FORM TYPE:		3

BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		425 CHRISTMAS TREE DRIVE
	CITY:			BOULDER
	STATE:			CO
	ZIP:			80302

MAIL ADDRESS:	
	STREET 1:		425 CHRISTMAS TREE DRIVE
	CITY:			BOULDER
	STATE:			CO
	ZIP:			80302
</REPORTING-OWNER>

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON POST CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000104889
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				530182885
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06714
		FILM NUMBER:		1820039

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 15TH ST NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2023346000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 15TH ST NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.txt
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 - DECEMBER 19, 2001
<TEXT>
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 3
INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Dotson, Jr., John L.
   425 Christmas Tree Drive
   Boulder, Colorado  80302
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
   December 19, 2001
3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)

4. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   The Washington Post Company
   WPO
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   (X) Director  ( ) 10% Owner  ( ) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)

6. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)

7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned                                                                           |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1. Title of Security                       |2. Amount of          |3. Ownership    |4. Nature of Indirect                          |
                                           |   Securities         |   Form:        |   Beneficial Ownership                        |
                                           |   Beneficially       |   Direct(D) or |                                               |
                                           |   Owned              |   Indirect(I)  |                                               |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                                        <C>                    <C>              <C>
Class B Common Stock                       |100                   |D               |                                               |
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<CAPTION>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Beneficially Owned                                                                             |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
1.Title of Derivative   |2.Date Exer-       |3.Title and Amount     |         |4. Conver-|5. Owner-    |6. Nature of Indirect      |
  Security              |  cisable and      |  of Underlying        |         |sion or   |ship         |   Beneficial Ownership    |
                        |  Expiration       |  Securities           |         |exercise  |Form of      |                           |
                        |  Date(Month/      |-----------------------|---------|price of  |Deriv-       |                           |
                        |  Day/Year)        |                       |Amount   |deri-     |ative        |                           |
                        | Date    | Expira- |                       |or       |vative    |Security:    |                           |
                        | Exer-   | tion    |         Title         |Number of|Security  |Direct(D) or |                           |
                        | cisable | Date    |                       |Shares   |          |Indirect(I)  |                           |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
<S>                     <C>       <C>       <C>                     <C>       <C>        <C>           <C>
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________|
</TABLE>
Explanation of Responses:
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
John L. Dotson, Jr. by Diana M. Daniels
DATE
December 20, 2001

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
