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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Kvs2lzhpyq1RZLLJWO3cmd7FBQHz0qqZ01afWugAZ7WPvUi0Ws6+VsH3QID8PKzj
 V0xejvF6yf4rlG1WTGMeZg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001159555-03-000005.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0001159555-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218170915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001159555-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDANIEL ANN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159555

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06714
		FILM NUMBER:		031062994

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 15TH STREET, N.W.
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20071

ISSUER:		

	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

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104889</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WASHINGTON POST CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WPO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159555</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDANIEL ANN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1150 15TH STREET, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>375</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>816.05</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0
</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-12-02</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2250</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote i
d="F1">Employee Stock Option was granted pursuant to The Washington Post Company Stock Option Plan.  Option becomes exercisable in 25 percent increments on the anniversary date of the grant starting December 2, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F2">N/A.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes all outstanding option rights to buy previously reported.</footnote><footnote id="F4">N/A.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ann McDaniel</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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