<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JOURNAL  COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. AS
OF AND FOR THE  THREE  MONTHS  ENDED  MARCH  28,  1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-28-1999
<CASH>                                         133,582
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  89,468
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,578
<INVENTORY>                                    19,660
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               258,901
<PP&E>                                         177,711
<DEPRECIATION>                                 257,080
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 571,860
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          128,017
<BONDS>                                        1,898
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       3,600
<OTHER-SE>                                     436,375
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   0
<SALES>                                        165,557  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               165,557  
<CGS>                                          88,945   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  142,003  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0        
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0        
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             0        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                25,455   
<INCOME-TAX>                                   10,451   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            15,004   
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0        
<CHANGES>                                      0        
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,004   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.54     
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.54