<?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>0001237384</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAULT CYNTHIA L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOURNAL BROADCAST GROUP INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>720 EAST CAPITOL DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Cynthia L. Gault</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

