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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,
 DuWuWd73nUZLPpZs3PzdUadTzEjlb8LdfbZlmld+U2ios9YwWWrly0YP2WKtVh18
 l8yJKBGKUNLKgTyY08r8ng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-04-000058.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-04-000058.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122160145
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-04-000058
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FELDSTEIN KATHLEEN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001162744

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07553
		FILM NUMBER:		04537392

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		147 CLIFTON STREET
		CITY:			BELMONT
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02478
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179519491

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KNIGHT RIDDER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000205520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				380723657
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 W SAN FERNANDO ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089387700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 W SAN FERNANDO ST
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS INC /FL/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860707
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNIGHT RIDDER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KRIC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162744</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FELDSTEIN KATHLEEN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 W. SAN FERNANDO STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>96.7992</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>77.48</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3226.6515</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></nature
OfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares acquired in payment of director retainer fee, under Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>POLK LAFFOON for Kathleen Feldstein</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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