<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN FORM 10-Q FOR DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000029924 <NAME> DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 17,498 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 316,757 <ALLOWANCES> 19,598 <INVENTORY> 9,152 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 409,677 <PP&E> 2,254,040 <DEPRECIATION> 1,507,165 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,750,304 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 607,989 <BONDS> 299,412 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 102,181 <OTHER-SE> 1,554,553 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,750,304 <SALES> 605,963 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 605,963 <CGS> 330,856 <TOTAL-COSTS> 330,856 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,801 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51,504 <INCOME-TAX> 26,009 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 25,399 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 25,399 <EPS-PRIMARY> .27 <EPS-DILUTED> 0