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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001208721-04-000001.txt : 20040211
<SEC-HEADER>0001208721-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040211144900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001208721-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07553
		FILM NUMBER:		04585834

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 W SAN FERNANDO ST 15TH FLR
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95113

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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNIGHT RIDDER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KRIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONNORS MARY JEAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 W SAN FERNANDO ST 15TH FLR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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>Sr. VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>211</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>35568</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeHolding>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-28</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6851</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6851</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.5625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1995-12-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1996-12-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-12-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.3125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-12-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1996-12-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-12-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>51.7188</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-16</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <value>62.155</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <value>2003-12-19</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>62.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-12-12</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-12-12</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>75.205</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Units were acquired under the issuer's MBO Deferral Plan, subject to reporting person's rights under the Plan to transfer the units to another deferred compensation plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options previously granted under the Knight-Ridder, Inc. Employee Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Option is exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Polk Laffoon  For: Mary Jean Connors</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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