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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UY2kCfXDM8fA3wiuwByGx1LvLaspnrobmj7t9P4KYZGslq9oyqFfSPwz5Z6nc0Eq
 eTcDVubwTRHnnrqWapulcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-11-012734.txt : 20110228
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-11-012734.hdr.sgml : 20110228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110228173611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-11-012734
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110228

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCCLATCHY CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056087
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				522080478
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	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:			Contrarius Investment Management Ltd
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001483738
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			Y9
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-46501
		FILM NUMBER:		11647869

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GROUND FLOOR, SIR WALTER RALEIGH HOUSE
		STREET 2:		48-50 ESPLANADE
		CITY:			ST. HELIER
		STATE:			Y9
		ZIP:			JE1 4HH
		BUSINESS PHONE:		44 1534 823 136

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GROUND FLOOR, SIR WALTER RALEIGH HOUSE
		STREET 2:		48-50 ESPLANADE
		CITY:			ST. HELIER
		STATE:			Y9
		ZIP:			JE1 4HH
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001056087</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MCCLATCHY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MNI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001483738</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Contrarius Investment Management Ltd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SIR WALTER RALEIGH HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>48-50 ESPLANADE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. HELIER, JERSEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>Y9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>JE1 4HH</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>JERSEY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>178300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.108</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6340177</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares are owned by managed account.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew G. Radley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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