-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VsqOfn5D7xMmwcQCibHKDkOGfDMUDf7KAvdJa0GL9O8aM5X8qO7y+W2kV659JPgh
 KFxrdqvKNUZex4aDlLjXAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-03-000613.txt : 20030716
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-03-000613.hdr.sgml : 20030716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716152527
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-03-000613
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030716

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:			TOBIAS RANDALL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001142639

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07553
		FILM NUMBER:		03789258

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		395 PAGE MILL RD
		STREET 2:		MS A3-18
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94306
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6507525447

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		395 PAGE MILL RD
		STREET 2:		MS A3 18
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94306
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000205520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNIGHT RIDDER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KRIC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001142639</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOBIAS RANDALL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>108.1939</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>69.32</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8772.7135</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDer
ivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares acquired in payment of director retainer fee, under Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>POLK LAFFOON For Randall L. Tobias</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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