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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4


                             THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

                       FORM OF DIRECTOR OPTION AGREEMENT

     The McClatchy Company (the "Company"), has granted to ___________________
(the "Optionee"), an option to purchase a total of 2,500 shares of the Company's
Common Stock (the "Optioned Stock"), at the price determined as provided herein,
and in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the
Company's 2001 Director Option Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company which is
incorporated herein by reference.  The terms defined in the Plan shall have the
same defined meanings herein.

     1.   Nature of the Option.  This Option is a nonstatutory option and is not
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intended to qualify for any special tax benefits to the Optionee.

     2.   Exercise Price. The exercise price is $_______ for each share of
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Common Stock.

     3.   Exercise of Option.  This Option shall be exercisable during its term
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in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Plan as follows:

          (i)  Right to Exercise.
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               (a)  This Option shall become exercisable in installments
cumulatively with respect to 25% of the Optioned Stock on the March 1st
following its date of grant and 25% of the Optioned Stock each March 1st
thereafter, subject to Optionee remaining a Director on each such date;
provided, however, that if Optionee's service as a Director terminates due to
his or her death, Disability or retirement after Optionee has attained the age
of 65, then 100% of the shares subject to this Option shall immediately vest and
become exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Option
be exercisable prior to the date the stockholders of the Company approve the
Plan.

               (b)  This Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a share.

               (c)  In the event of Optionee's death, Disability, retirement
after attaining the age of 65 or other termination of service as a Director, the
exercisability of the Option is governed by Section 8 of the Plan.

          (ii) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by written
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notice which shall state the election to exercise the Option and the number of
Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised. Such written notice,
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, shall be signed by the Optionee and
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shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the
Company. The written notice shall be accompanied by payment of the exercise
price.

     4.   Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of
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the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

          (i)    cash;
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          (ii)   check;

          (iii)  surrender of other Shares, provided Shares acquired from the
Company, (x) have been owned by the Optionee for more than twelve (12) months on
the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option
shall be exercised; or

          (iv)   delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Company and the broker, if applicable, shall
require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of the
sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price.

     5.   Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised if the
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issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of
consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any applicable
federal or state securities or other law or regulations, or if such issuance
would not comply with the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the
Shares may then be listed. As a condition to the exercise of this Option, the
Company may require Optionee to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

     6.   Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
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any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.

     7.   Term of Option. This Option may not be exercised more than ten (10)
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years from the date of grant of this Option, and may be exercised during such
period only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option.

     8.   Taxation Upon Exercise of Option. Optionee understands that, upon
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exercise of this Option, he or she will recognize income for tax purposes in an
amount equal to the excess of the then Fair Market Value of the Shares purchased
over the exercise price paid for such Shares. Since the Optionee is subject to
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, under certain
limited circumstances the measurement and timing of such income (and the
commencement of any capital gain holding period) may be deferred, and the
Optionee is advised to contact a tax advisor concerning the application of
Section 83 in general and the availability a Section 83(b) election in
particular in connection with the exercise of the Option. Upon a resale of such
Shares by the Optionee, any difference between the sale price and the Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise of the Option, to the extent
not included in income as described above, will be treated as capital gain or
loss.

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     DATE OF GRANT:  ______________

                                        McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS, INC.,
                                        A Delaware corporation

                                        By: ____________________________________

     Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, a copy of which is
attached hereto, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and
provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms
and provisions thereof.  Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive
and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions
arising under the Plan.

     Dated: _______________________

                                        ______________________________
                                        Optionee

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                                   EXHIBIT A
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                        DIRECTOR OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

The McClatchy Company
[Address]

Attention: Corporate Secretary

     1.   Exercise of Option. The undersigned ("Optionee") hereby elects to
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exercise Optionee's option to purchase ______ shares of the Common Stock (the
"Shares") of The McClatchy Company (the "Company") under and pursuant to the
Company's 2001 Director Option Plan and the Director Option Agreement dated
_______________ (the "Agreement").

     2.   Representations of Optionee.  Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has
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received, read and understood the Agreement.

     3.   Federal Restrictions on Transfer. Optionee understands that the Shares
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must be held indefinitely unless they are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or unless an exemption from such registration
is available, and that the certificate(s) representing the Shares may bear a
legend to that effect.  Optionee understands that the Company is under no
obligation to register the Shares and that an exemption may not be available or
may not permit Optionee to transfer Shares in the amounts or at the times
proposed by Optionee.

     4.   Tax Consequences. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer
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adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax
consultant(s) Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.

     5.   Delivery of Payment. Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the
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aggregate purchase price for the Shares that Optionee has elected to purchase
and has made provision for the payment of any federal or state withholding taxes
required to be paid or withheld by the Company.

     6.   Entire Agreement. The Agreement is incorporated herein by reference.
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This Exercise Notice and the Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the
parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of
the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Exercise Notice and the Agreement are governed by California law except for that
body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.
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Submitted by:                      Accepted by:

OPTIONEE:                          THE McCLATCHY COMPANY

By:__________________________      By: _________________________________

                                   Its: ________________________________

Address:


Dated:_______________________      Dated:_______________________________

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