Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012 Sale of Kaplan Learning Technologies [Member] Education [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Kaplan EduNeering [Member] Education [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Sales of Kaplan EduNeering and Kaplan Learning Technologies [Member] Education [Member]	Aug. 31, 2012 Sale of Kidum [Member] Education [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Disposition of Avenue 100 Media Solutions Inc. [Member] Other Businesses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Disposition of Avenue 100 Media Solutions Inc. [Member] Other Businesses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 01, 2013 Sale of Publishing Subsidiaries [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]
Purchase Agreement aggregate purchase price for divestiture of business															$ 250,000,000
Number of days following closing to change corporate name															60 days
Additional amount to be transferred to Purchaser related to pension															50,000,000
Expenses in discontinued operations	165,380,000	155,701,000	467,434,000	491,698,000							28,400,000
Expenses in discontinued operations, net of tax											18,300,000
Early retirement program expense			22,700,000	8,508,000								7,500,000	22,700,000	8,500,000
Early retirement program expense, net of tax												4,600,000	14,500,000	5,300,000
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition	0	(2,174,000)	(70,000)	23,759,000				3,600,000	(5,700,000)
After-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition					(1,900,000)	18,500,000		10,200,000
Income tax benefits in connection with sales and/or dispositions of businesses							$ 23,200,000			$ 44,500,000