<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Joe L. Allbritton
                                                -------------------------
                                                Joe L. Allbritton

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Barbara B. Allbritton
                                                -------------------------
                                                Barbara B. Allbritton

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Robert L. Allbritton
                                                -------------------------
                                                Robert L. Allbritton

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Lawrence I. Hebert
                                                -------------------------
                                                Lawrence I. Hebert

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.
                                                --------------------------
                                                Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, and with full power to act for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and
file, or cause to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended
September 30, 2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required
by the Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said attorney-in-fact
and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as
he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Stephen P. Gibson
                                                -------------------------
                                                Stephen P. Gibson

<PAGE>


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

                           ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                      OF ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director or officer,
or both, of Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company") constitutes and
appoints Jerald N. Fritz and Stephen P. Gibson his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and file, or cause
to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") an
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's fiscal year ended September 30,
2002 and any and all amendments thereto, and all matters required by the
Commission in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his name and seal the
12th day of December 2002.



                                                /s/ Elizabeth A. Haley
                                                -------------------------
                                                Elizabeth A. Haley