EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         The undersigned member of the Board of Directors of Knight-Ridder,
Inc., does hereby constitute and appoint Jean Mordo, Gary R. Effren, Gordon
Yamate and Polk Laffoon, and each of them, his/her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
for him/her in his/her name, place and stead in any and all capacities to sign
any and all Reports on Form 10-K (Annual Report pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or any of them, or their or the undersigned substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEROF, the undersigned has signed his/her name hereto on
the date set forth opposite his or her name.

March 19, 2001                           /s/ JAMES I. CASH, JR.*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         James I. Cash, Jr.


March 19, 2001                           /s/ JOAN RIDDER CHALLINOR *
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Joan Ridder Challinor


March 19, 2001                           /s/ KATHLEEN FOLEY FELDSTEIN*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Kathleen Foley Feldstein


March 19, 2001                           /s/ THOMAS P. GERRITY*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Thomas P. Gerrity


March 19, 2001                           /s/ BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer


March 19, 2001                           /s/ M. KENNETH OSHMAN*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         M. Kenneth Oshman


March 19, 2001                           /s/ P. ANTHONY RIDDER*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         P. Anthony Ridder


March 19, 2001                           /s/ RANDALL L. TOBIAS*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Randall L. Tobias


March 19, 2001                           /s/ GONZALO F. VALDES-FAULI*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli


March 19, 2001                           /s/ JOHN L. WEINBERG*
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         John L. Weinberg