Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Revenues
Education	$ 2,177,508	$ 2,196,496	$ 2,404,459
Subscriber	755,662	732,370	710,253
Advertising	366,316	400,800	327,877
Other	188,378	125,904	83,408
Total Operating Revenues	3,487,864	3,455,570	3,525,997
Operating Costs and Expenses
Operating	1,564,911	1,566,257	1,562,615
Selling, general and administrative	1,327,322	1,333,516	1,383,660
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	233,218	244,078	223,403
Amortization of intangible assets	13,598	20,946	22,201
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	3,250	111,593	0
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	3,142,299	3,276,390	3,191,879
Income from Operations	345,565	179,180	334,118
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	13,215	14,086	5,949
Interest income	2,264	3,393	4,147
Interest expense	(36,067)	(35,944)	(33,226)
Other expense, net	(23,751)	(5,456)	(55,200)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	301,226	155,259	255,788
Provision for Income Taxes	110,000	83,200	104,400
Income from Continuing Operations	191,226	72,059	151,388
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	46,119	60,128	(34,231)
Net Income	237,345	132,187	117,157
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(480)	(74)	(7)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company	236,865	132,113	117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(855)	(895)	(917)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders	236,010	131,218	116,233
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	189,891	71,090	150,464
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	46,119	60,128	(34,231)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 236,010	$ 131,218	$ 116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 25.83	$ 9.22	$ 19.03
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 6.27	$ 8.17	$ (4.33)
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 32.10	$ 17.39	$ 14.70
Basic average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,238	7,360	7,826
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 25.78	$ 9.22	$ 19.03
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 6.27	$ 8.17	$ (4.33)
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 32.05	$ 17.39	$ 14.70
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,333	7,404	7,905