EXHIBIT 5.1

                          FULBRIGHT & JAWORSHI L.L.P.
                        801  Pennsylvania  Avenue, N.W.
                          Washington, D.C. 20004-2615

                                                                 HOUSTON     
                                                             WASHINGTON, D.C.
                                                                 AUSTIN      
                                                               SAN ANTONIO   
TELEPHONE: 202/662-0200                                          DALLAS      
    TELEX: 197471                                               NEW YORK     
FACSIMILE: 202/662-4643                                       LOS ANGELES    
                                                                 LONDON      
WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER:                                     ZURICH      
    202/662-4678                                               HONG KONG     
                  

                               February 23, 1998


Allbritton Communications Company
808 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, D.C.  20006

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At your request, we have examined or caused to be examined the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-45933) and the prospectus forming a part thereof
(the "Prospectus") filed by Allbritton Communications Company (the "Company")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to $150,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 8 7/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 (the "Exchange Notes") proposed to be issued under an Indenture dated as of
January 22, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and State Street Bank
and Trust Company, as trustee, in exchange for the Company's 8 7/8% Series A
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008.

     We understand that the Exchange Notes will be sold as set forth in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal set forth
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have examined the Indenture
which is included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We have also
examined, or caused to be examined, such further instruments, documents and
records which we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis of our opinion.
In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us
as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of
such latter documents.

     Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Exchange Notes have
been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company, and, when duly
executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
delivered as contemplated in the Prospectus, the Exchange Notes will be legal,
valid

 
Allbritton Communications Company
February 23, 1998
Page 2

and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws or equitable principles relating to
or limiting the rights of creditors generally.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and of our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration
Statement.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 /S/ Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

                                                 Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.