* Washington Post Co., publisher of the...

* Washington Post Co., publisher of the Washington Post newspaper and Newsweek magazine, reported a fourth-quarter rise in profit to $47 million Tuesday but said profit for the whole of 1991 plunged 59%.

Another major media corporation, Chicago’s Tribune Co., earned $32.7 million in the quarter, contrasted with a loss of $191.4 million a year earlier.

Washington Post’s quarterly results equaled $3.96 a share compared to $42.1 million, or $3.55 a share, one year ago. But revenue for the period slipped to $366.6 million from $369.4 million.

For 1991, the company’s earnings slumped to $70.8 million, or $5.96 a share, from $174.6 million or $14.45 a share. Revenue for the year fell to $1.38 billion from $1.44 billion.

But the company said its annual results included a $47.9-million charge, equaling $4.04 a share, and attributable to a change in accounting standards for post-retirement benefits and other pensions.

Meanwhile, Tribune Co., which sold the New York Daily News to the late Robert Maxwell last year, said its annual operations returned to the black with earnings of $142.0 million after a loss of $63.5 million in 1990.

Fourth-quarter 1990 results included a pretax charge of $295 million for the Daily News sale, which reduced net income for that period by $185 million, or $2.80 a share.

The company, which publishes the Chicago Tribune and operates a number of radio and television stations, said quarterly newspaper operating profit fell 14% over year-earlier levels due to less advertising.

The result excluded the Daily News charges.

But the company said broadcasting and entertainment operating profit rose 40% from year-earlier levels to $19.5 million for the quarter.