Exhibit No. 23


               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form
10-K of Journal Communications, Inc. (the Company) of our report dated January
25, 2002, included in the 2001 Annual Report to Shareholders of Journal
Communications, Inc.

     Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Journal
Communications, Inc. listed in item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility
of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based
on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to
above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a
whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth
therein.

     We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 2-79770 and 333-45408) pertaining to Journal
Communications, Inc. Employees' Individual Retirement Agreement and the Journal
Employees' Stock Trust of our report dated January 25, 2002, except for note 4
as to which the date is February 7, 2002, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements incorporated herein by reference, and our report included
in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Journal Communications, Inc.


ERNST & YOUNG LLP


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 25, 2002


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