-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TnGoSNLKuhhOL8a8t66kr/T2D4jJDPi1b6cuWeDQPtEeaOniHsNPnIp4XyMaE2dV
 evhesr/gSjw1ZIgijjnuxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001056087-03-000039.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001056087-03-000039.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030519171842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001056087-03-000039
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030519

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCLATCHY CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056087
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				94066175
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEGAL DEPARTMENT
		STREET 2:		2100 Q STREET
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9163211846

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEGAL DEPARTMENT
		STREET 2:		2100 Q STREET
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95816-6899

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MNI NEWCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCLATCHY WILLIAM ELLERY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000918716

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-46501
		FILM NUMBER:		03711012

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		246 SEA SPRAY
		CITY:			PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33480
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4078332321

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WILMA C FLACH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 15779
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95852
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <issuer>
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        <issuerName>MCCLATCHY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MNI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000918716</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCCLATCHY WILLIAM ELLERY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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><underlyingSecurityShares><value>625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></tra
nsactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1875</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><
transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30</value></conversionOr
ExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>625</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><na
tureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This report does not include 2,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock indirectly held by the Trust for the Primary Benefit of William Ellery McClatchy dated November 15, 1974, of which the undersigned is a beneficiary and a successor co-trustee under the terms of the trust, each of which is convertible into Class A Common stock on a one-for-one basis.  This report does not include shares of stock held by:  (1) Trusts for the Primary Benefit of (a) James B. McClatchy, (b) Sue Maloney Stiles, (c) Martin J. and Mazie Maloney, and (d) Charles K. McClatchy, each dated November 15, 1974, of which the undersigned is a co-trustee pursuant to appointment; and (2) certain trusts established under the Will of Charles K. McClatchy, Deceased, of which the undersigned is a co-trustee pursuant to appointment; as to all of which neither the undersigned nor any member of the undersigned's immediate family, a
s defined by Rule 16a-1(e), has a pecuniary interest.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Director's stock option granted pursuant to The McClatchy Company 1990 Director Option Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>William Ellery McClatchy</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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