GAITHERSBURG, Md.--Feb. 1, 2001--The Gazette, a division of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO), announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Southern Maryland Newspapers from Chesapeake Publishing Corporation, Elkton, MD.

The newspapers include the twice-weekly Maryland Independent in Charles County, the Lexington Park Enterprise in St. Mary's County, and the Recorder in Calvert County.

Also included in the sale are the Enquirer-Gazette, a paid-circulation paper based in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County; four weekly publications, St. Charles Independent, La Plata Independent, Southern Maryland Connector, and South County Current; Flightline and Defense Contractor, two publications that serve the military bases in Southern Maryland; and a commercial printing operation based in Waldorf, MD.

The acquisition will be completed by March 1, 2001. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Chuck Lyons, president and publisher of The Gazette, said, "This is an acquisition that makes great strategic sense to our community newspaper business currently serving Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

"These communities and newspapers are not only among the fastest growing in Maryland but they also are rich in history and tradition," said Lyons. "We look forward to publishing quality newspapers that earn the trust of readers and advertisers, to creating a great place to work for employees, and to serving the communities of Southern Maryland."

Tom Bradlee, president of Chesapeake Publishing Corporation, said, "Our Southern Maryland newspapers have been a great asset for Chesapeake. The area has grown tremendously since we made our first investment there in the early '70s. We have great regard for the people and what they have accomplished over the years. For the past decade it has been our fastest growing division. We take pride that our people and our newspapers will go forward under the direction of one of the finest newspaper companies in the country."

The Gazette publishes 35 community newspapers with a combined circulation of more than 500,000 copies, is a contract publisher of newspapers and guides for 11 military installations in the Washington, D.C., region, publishes two Internet sites - gazette.net and dcmilitary.com, and operates a commercial printing plant in Gaithersburg, Maryland.