Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 548,230	$ 551,774	$ 1,076,045	$ 1,098,459
Advertising	186,702	186,486	349,850	354,044
Circulation and Subscriber	227,753	217,747	449,462	431,424
Other	59,166	33,096	105,599	60,677
Total Operating Revenues	1,021,851	989,103	1,980,956	1,944,604
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	469,319	461,788	921,300	922,088
Selling, general and administrative	392,294	397,465	806,850	805,571
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	63,875	62,401	129,666	124,325
Amortization of intangible assets	3,313	4,428	7,030	8,301
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	928,801	926,082	1,864,846	1,860,285
Income from Operations	93,050	63,021	116,110	84,319
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	3,868	3,314	7,286	7,202
Interest income	522	775	1,032	1,844
Interest expense	(9,048)	(8,979)	(18,008)	(18,142)
Other (expense) income, net	(12,858)	(635)	(16,941)	7,953
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	75,534	57,496	89,479	83,176
Provision for Income Taxes	30,400	21,200	37,700	32,900
Income from Continuing Operations	45,134	36,296	51,779	50,276
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	0	15,751	(1,386)	33,339
Net Income	45,134	52,047	50,393	83,615
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(253)	(11)	(350)	(81)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company	44,881	52,036	50,043	83,534
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(206)	(222)	(650)	(673)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	44,675	51,814	49,393	82,861
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	44,675	36,063	50,779	49,522
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	15,751	(1,386)	33,339
Net income attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 44,675	$ 51,814	$ 49,393	$ 82,861
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 6.84	$ 6.48
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 2.08	$ (0.18)	$ 4.39
Basic net income per common share	$ 6.02	$ 6.84	$ 6.66	$ 10.87
Basic average number of common shares outstanding	7,229	7,431	7,228	7,473
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 6.84	$ 6.48
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 2.08	$ (0.18)	$ 4.39
Diluted net income per common share	$ 6.02	$ 6.84	$ 6.66	$ 10.87
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding	7,283	7,545	7,276	7,580