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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,
 Mlc42pNfPMIcHUVc6D4HmsULlqOG0OmMPSHVgLdloHzBWBHnQbh8kwop9Nw0YuZN
 EVeHXdbP7gcTU5kX1YI6aA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001208721-03-000002.txt : 20030728
<SEC-HEADER>0001208721-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030728214628
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001208721-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030728

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONNORS MARY JEAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208721

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07553
		FILM NUMBER:		03807076

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 W SAN FERNANDO ST 15TH FLR
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113
</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>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNIGHT RIDDER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KRI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONNORS MARY JEAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 W. SAN FERNANDO STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>16000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>29.4688</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48044.6423</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIn
directOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>69.536</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37944.6423</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivative
Table><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.4688</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>16000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-12-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-12-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransact
ion><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Includes 160 shares acquired through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 2/28/2003, 170 shares acquired through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan on 5/30/2003, and 2,165.6423 shares held in the Issuer's 401k Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Adrienne Lilly</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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