In his last week as chairman and chief executive of Knight Ridder, Tony Ridder answered questions from The Miami Herald, responding via e-mail to questions submitted in advance, on his lawyers’ advice. He says he could have fought shareholders who wanted the company sold off, “but we were concerned about the effect a prolonged proxy fight would have on the company, which we knew would have been enormously destabilizing to our newspapers and Web sites.” What would his father and grandfather, who built the company, say about his decision to sell? “I think they would understand how, given the circumstances, selling Knight Ridder was the right thing to do.” What’s your legacy? “Knight Ridder’s legacy is outstanding journalism that has made a tremendous difference in all of our local communities and — through our Washington Bureau — nationally and internationally.”