1

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                 June 29, 2001


Knight-Ridder, Inc.
50 West San Fernando Street
San Jose, CA 95113

               Re:  Knight-Ridder, Inc.
                    Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

               At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") in the form to be filed by
Knight-Ridder, Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), of the Company's debt securities (the "Debt Securities")
in an aggregate amount of up to approximately $500,000,000 or the equivalent
thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies. The Debt
Securities are to be issued under an Indenture dated as of November 4, 1997
(the "Indenture") between the Company and Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee. The
Debt Securities are to be sold from time to time as set forth in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement
(the "Prospectus") and the supplements to the Prospectus (the "Prospectus
Supplements").

               We have examined instruments, documents and records which we
deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter
expressed. In such examination, we have assumed the following: (a) the
authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b)
the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and
   2
(c) the truth, accuracy, and completeness of the information, representations
and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and
certificates we have reviewed.

          Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that:

          When the issuance of Debt Securities has been duly authorized by
appropriate corporate action and the Debt Securities have been duly executed,
authenticated and delivered in accordance with the related Indenture and sold
as described in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the
Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the Debt Securities
will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
benefits of such Indenture.

          Our opinion that any document is legal, valid and binding is qualified
as to:

          (a)  limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws relating to or
affecting the rights of creditors generally;

          (b)  general principles of equity, including without limitation
concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the
possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
above-referenced Registration Statement and to the use of our name wherever
it appears in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus
Supplement, and in any amendment or supplement thereto. In giving such consent,
we do not believe that we are "experts" within the meaning of such term as used
in the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration
Statement, including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP


                                       2