<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-09-23</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001232241</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOURNAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237382</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARDNER CARL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE JOURNAL COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>333 WEST STATE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Carl D. Gardner</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

