Washington Post Co., citing a modest improvement...

Washington Post Co., citing a modest improvement in advertising coupled with substantially lower newsprint costs, reported that it returned to profitability during the first three months of 1992.

The media company earned $19.7 million, or $1.66 a share, in the first quarter, against a loss of $35.4 million, or $2.98 a share, in 1991. The 1991 results included a one-time charge of $47.9 million because of an accounting change.