Publisher Knight Ridder, headquartered in Miami, said...

Publisher Knight Ridder, headquartered in Miami, said third-quarter earnings benefited from a favorable comparison due to a strike in Philadelphia a year ago. Also aiding the increased income was a two- cents-per- share reduction in pension costs as a result of a number of changes, including early adoption of new pension accounting rules, Knight Ridder said. Knight Ridder publishes 28 newspapers, owns and operates eight VHF television stations and has a growing presence in business information services. In a separate announcement, the Washington Post Co., another publisher, reported a slight drop in third-quarter net income, compared to the same period a year ago. Washington Post and its subsidiaries publishes the Washington Post and Newsweek magazine and owns four television stations.