<PAGE>
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 24, 2002

                                                          REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            -------------------------

                               KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                            -------------------------

            FLORIDA                                    38-0723657
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                    IDENTIFICATION NO.)

       50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST.
             SAN JOSE, CA                              95113-2413
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)               (ZIP CODE)

                            -------------------------

                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                            -------------------------

                               GORDON YAMATE, ESQ.
                               VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                 GENERAL COUNSEL
                            50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST.
                            SAN JOSE, CA 95113-2413
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)


                                 (408) 938-7700
          (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    COPY TO:

                             BARBARA M. LANGE, ESQ.
                       ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
                        OLD FEDERAL RESERVE BANK BUILDING
                               400 SANSOME STREET
                          SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3143
                                 (415) 392-1122

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=============================== ================== ================ ================== ================
                                                       PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE        AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
          REGISTERED                REGISTERED       PER SHARE(1)    OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ----------------
<S>                             <C>                <C>              <C>                <C>
Common Stock,(2)                4,000,000 shares       $66.96        $267,840,000      $24,641.28
par value $.02 1/12 per share
=============================== ================== ================ ================== ================
</TABLE>

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed
     maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate
     offering price have been calculated on the basis of $66.96 per share, the
     average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
     Exchange on May 20, 2002.

(2)  Includes Preferred Stock Purchase Rights which, prior to the occurrence of
     certain events, will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the
     Common Stock.

================================================================================


<PAGE>


  PART II - INFORMATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E TO FORM S-8

GENERAL INSTRUCTION E INFORMATION

    This Registration Statement is being filed for the purpose of increasing the
number of securities of the same class as other securities for which a
Registration Statement of Knight-Ridder, Inc. (the "Company") relating to the
Employee Stock Option Plan is effective. The Company's Form S-8 Registration
Statements Nos. 33-68171 and 33-80163 are hereby incorporated by reference.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The following documents filed by the Company under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are incorporated by
reference to this Registration Statement:

        (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 30, 2001;

        (b) All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or
            15(d) of the Exchange Act since December 30, 2001; and

        (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock and Preferred Stock
            Purchase Rights contained in the Company's registration statements,
            including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose
            of updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and be part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents.

        Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed
document which is also incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes
such statement.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        The legality of the securities offered hereby has been passed on for the
Company by Gordon Yamate. Mr. Yamate is Vice President and General Counsel of
the Company and at May 20, 2002 beneficially owned 33,097 shares of the
Company's Common Stock.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      EXHIBIT
      NUMBER      NAME
      -------     ----
      <S>         <C>
         5.1      Opinion of Gordon Yamate, Esq.

        23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

        23.2      Consent of Gordon Yamate, Esq. is included in Exhibit 5.1 to
                  this Registration Statement.

        24.1      Powers of Attorney.
</TABLE>

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

        (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


                                       2
<PAGE>


            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;

                (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set for the in the "Calculation of Registration Fee"
table in the effective Registration Statement;

                (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                       3
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California on the 22nd of May,
2002.

                                        KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.


                                        By: /s/    MARY JEAN CONNORS
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                   Mary Jean Connors
                                           Senior Vice President/Human Resources


    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                           TITLE                      DATE
              ---------                           -----                      ----
<S>                                      <C>                              <C>
Principal Executive Officer:


* P. ANTHONY RIDDER                      Chairman of the Board and        May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
P. Anthony Ridder


Principal Financial Officer:


* GARY R. EFFREN                         Chief Financial Officer and      May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------           Senior Vice
Gary R. Effren                               President/Finance


Principal Accounting Officer:


* MARGARET RANDAZZO                      Vice President/Controller        May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Margaret Randazzo
</TABLE>


                                       4
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                           TITLE                      DATE
              ---------                           -----                      ----
<S>                                              <C>                     <C>
Directors:


*JAMES I. CASH, JR.                              Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
James I. Cash, Jr.


*KATHLEEN FOLEY FELDSTEIN                        Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Kathleen Foley Feldstein


*THOMAS P. GERRITY                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Thomas P. Gerrity


*PATRICIA MITCHELL                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Patricia Mitchell


*M. KENNETH OSHMAN                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
M. Kenneth Oshman


*RANDALL L. TOBIAS                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Randall L. Tobias


*GONZALO F. VALDES-FAULI                         Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli


*JOHN L. WEINBERG                                Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
John L. Weinberg


*   By:  /s/      GORDON YAMATE
         ----------------------------------
         Gordon Yamate, as attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER     NAME
       -------    ----
       <S>        <C>
         5.1      Opinion of Gordon Yamate, Esq.

        23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

        23.2      Consent of Gordon Yamate, Esq. is
                  included in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration
                  Statement.

        24.1      Powers of Attorney.
</TABLE>


                                       6
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "f81956ors-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14707}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KNIGHT RIDDER INC", "cik": "0000205520", "assigned-sic": "2711", "irs-number": "380723657", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "1227"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-89016", "film-number": "02661953"}, "business-address": {"street1": "50 W SAN FRANCISCO ST", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95113", "phone": "4089387700"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "50 W SAN FRANCISCO ST", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95113"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS INC /FL/", "date-changed": "19860707"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 24, 2002

                                                          REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            -------------------------

                               KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                            -------------------------

            FLORIDA                                    38-0723657
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                    IDENTIFICATION NO.)

       50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST.
             SAN JOSE, CA                              95113-2413
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)               (ZIP CODE)

                            -------------------------

                           EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                            -------------------------

                               GORDON YAMATE, ESQ.
                               VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                 GENERAL COUNSEL
                            50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST.
                            SAN JOSE, CA 95113-2413
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                 (408) 938-7700
          (TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    COPY TO:

                             BARBARA M. LANGE, ESQ.
                       ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
                        OLD FEDERAL RESERVE BANK BUILDING
                               400 SANSOME STREET
                          SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3143
                                 (415) 392-1122

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=============================== ================== ================ ================== ================
                                                       PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
  TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE        AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
          REGISTERED                REGISTERED       PER SHARE(1)    OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ ----------------
Common Stock,(2)                4,000,000 shares       $66.96        $267,840,000      $24,641.28
par value $.02 1/12 per share
=============================== ================== ================ ================== ================
(1)  Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, the proposed
     maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate
     offering price have been calculated on the basis of $66.96 per share, the
     average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock
     Exchange on May 20, 2002.

(2)  Includes Preferred Stock Purchase Rights which, prior to the occurrence of
     certain events, will not be exercisable or evidenced separately from the
     Common Stock.

================================================================================
PART II - INFORMATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E TO FORM S-8

GENERAL INSTRUCTION E INFORMATION

    This Registration Statement is being filed for the purpose of increasing the
number of securities of the same class as other securities for which a
Registration Statement of Knight-Ridder, Inc. (the "Company") relating to the
Employee Stock Option Plan is effective. The Company's Form S-8 Registration
Statements Nos. 33-68171 and 33-80163 are hereby incorporated by reference.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The following documents filed by the Company under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are incorporated by
reference to this Registration Statement:

        (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 30, 2001;

        (b) All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or
            15(d) of the Exchange Act since December 30, 2001; and

        (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock and Preferred Stock
            Purchase Rights contained in the Company's registration statements,
            including any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose
            of updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and be part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents.

        Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement contained in a subsequently filed
document which is also incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes
such statement.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        The legality of the securities offered hereby has been passed on for the
Company by Gordon Yamate. Mr. Yamate is Vice President and General Counsel of
the Company and at May 20, 2002 beneficially owned 33,097 shares of the
Company's Common Stock.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
      NUMBER      NAME
      -------     ----
5.1      Opinion of Gordon Yamate, Esq.

        23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

        23.2      Consent of Gordon Yamate, Esq. is included in Exhibit 5.1 to
                  this Registration Statement.

        24.1      Powers of Attorney.
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

        (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                                       2
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act;

                (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the dollar value of securities offered would not exceed
that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set for the in the "Calculation of Registration Fee"
table in the effective Registration Statement;

                (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                       3
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California on the 22nd of May,
2002.

                                        KNIGHT-RIDDER, INC.

                                        By: /s/    MARY JEAN CONNORS
                                           ------------------------------------
                                                   Mary Jean Connors
                                           Senior Vice President/Human Resources

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                           TITLE                      DATE
              ---------                           -----                      ----
Principal Executive Officer:

* P. ANTHONY RIDDER                      Chairman of the Board and        May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
P. Anthony Ridder

Principal Financial Officer:

* GARY R. EFFREN                         Chief Financial Officer and      May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------           Senior Vice
Gary R. Effren                               President/Finance

Principal Accounting Officer:

* MARGARET RANDAZZO                      Vice President/Controller        May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Margaret Randazzo
4
SIGNATURE                           TITLE                      DATE
              ---------                           -----                      ----
Directors:

*JAMES I. CASH, JR.                              Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
James I. Cash, Jr.

*KATHLEEN FOLEY FELDSTEIN                        Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Kathleen Foley Feldstein

*THOMAS P. GERRITY                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Thomas P. Gerrity

*PATRICIA MITCHELL                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Patricia Mitchell

*M. KENNETH OSHMAN                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
M. Kenneth Oshman

*RANDALL L. TOBIAS                               Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Randall L. Tobias

*GONZALO F. VALDES-FAULI                         Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
Gonzalo F. Valdes-Fauli

*JOHN L. WEINBERG                                Director                May 24, 2002
--------------------------------------
John L. Weinberg

*   By:  /s/      GORDON YAMATE
         ----------------------------------
         Gordon Yamate, as attorney-in-fact
5
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER     NAME
       -------    ----
5.1      Opinion of Gordon Yamate, Esq.

        23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

        23.2      Consent of Gordon Yamate, Esq. is
                  included in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration
                  Statement.

        24.1      Powers of Attorney.
6