Business Segments (Summary of Business Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended							6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 04, 2010	Jan. 03, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jul. 04, 2010	Jan. 02, 2011	Jan. 03, 2010
Operating revenues	$ 1,072,997	$ 1,053,010	$ 1,185,839	$ 1,187,560	$ 1,197,410	$ 1,128,985		$ 2,126,007	$ 2,326,395	$ 4,699,794	$ 4,345,680
Income (loss) from operations	81,093	55,016	150,869	137,914	166,898	106,599		136,109	273,497	562,280	272,302
Equity in losses of affiliates	3,138	3,737	(191)	2,140	2,027	(8,109)		6,875	(6,082)	(4,133)	(29,421)
Interest expense, net	(6,963)	(6,979)	(6,642)	(7,033)	(6,999)	(7,253)		(13,942)	(14,252)	(27,927)	(28,968)
Other, net	(2,591)	(24,032)	2,157	12,486	(3,807)	(3,321)		(26,623)	(7,128)	7,515	13,197
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	74,677	27,742	146,193	145,507	158,119	87,916		102,419	246,035	537,735	227,110
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	63,908	63,230	63,901	60,939	61,024	61,458		127,138	122,482	247,322	291,221
Amortization of intangible assets	6,836	6,221	6,495	6,466	7,549	6,460		13,057	14,009	26,970	26,294
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets				27,477						27,477	25,387
Net pension (expense) credit	1,458	(141)	1,741	(1,732)	(16,936)	435		1,317	(16,501)	(16,492)	(49,854)
Identifiable assets	4,721,287		4,785,820				4,777,600	4,721,287		4,785,820	4,777,600
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge					17,700				17,700
Investments in marketable equity securities	325,805		340,910				353,884	325,805		340,910	353,884
Investments in Affiliates	32,687		31,637				54,722	32,687		31,637	54,722
Assets of discontinued operations			—				—	12,715
Total assets	5,092,494		5,158,367				5,186,206	5,092,494		5,158,367	5,186,206
Education	628,701	630,027	695,619	741,156	742,921	698,336		1,258,728	1,441,257	2,878,032	2,595,802
Education [Member]
Operating revenues	628,701	630,027	695,619	741,156	742,921	698,336		1,258,728	1,441,257	2,878,032	2,595,802
Income (loss) from operations	20,462	18,512	66,077	106,439	112,391	61,444		38,974	173,835	346,351	209,184
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	22,517	21,209	21,420	18,950	19,020	18,608		43,726	37,628	77,998	81,015
Amortization of intangible assets	5,547	4,925	5,171	4,943	6,300	5,220		10,472	11,520	21,634	21,875
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets											25,387
Net pension (expense) credit	(1,652)	(1,552)	(1,398)	(1,434)	(1,526)	(1,349)		(3,204)	(2,875)	(5,707)	(5,414)
Identifiable assets	2,061,646		2,197,277				2,188,328	2,061,646		2,197,277	2,188,328
Cable Television [Member]
Operating revenues	191,231	190,280	191,274	188,694	190,558	189,358		381,511	379,916	759,884	750,409
Income (loss) from operations	40,425	37,707	37,355	40,264	43,790	42,536		78,132	86,326	163,945	169,051
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	31,533	31,786	31,312	31,174	30,722	31,626		63,319	62,348	124,834	124,207
Amortization of intangible assets	66	73	102	74	75	76		139	151	327	310
Net pension (expense) credit	(497)	(518)	(488)	(488)	(475)	(468)		(1,015)	(943)	(1,919)	(1,851)
Identifiable assets	1,139,612		1,141,427				1,164,209	1,139,612		1,141,427	1,164,209
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Operating revenues	162,772	154,997	188,425	163,447	172,730	155,771		317,769	328,501	680,373	679,282
Income (loss) from operations	(2,918)	(12,827)	19,941	(1,715)	(14,300)	(13,752)		(15,745)	(28,052)	(9,826)	(163,549)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	6,540	6,900	7,223	7,416	7,818	7,884		13,440	15,702	30,341	72,870
Amortization of intangible assets	289	290	290	262	389	282		579	671	1,223	1,010
Net pension (expense) credit	(5,288)	(6,705)	(5,447)	(8,088)	(23,192)	(5,560)		(11,993)	(28,752)	(42,287)	(75,925)
Identifiable assets	174,621		206,305				207,234	174,621		206,305	207,234
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Operating revenues	84,940	72,183	102,912	83,178	82,592	73,482		157,123	156,074	342,164	272,651
Income (loss) from operations	32,571	19,591	45,348	25,283	29,806	20,911		52,162	50,717	121,348	70,506
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,134	3,110	3,141	3,182	3,260	3,137		6,244	6,397	12,720	12,299
Net pension (expense) credit	(335)	(646)	(278)	(278)	(295)	(262)		(981)	(557)	(1,113)	(418)
Identifiable assets	431,627		436,289				433,705	431,627		436,289	433,705
Other Businesses [Member]
Operating revenues	6,095	6,662	8,470	13,098	10,693	14,134		12,757	24,827	46,395	53,921
Income (loss) from operations	(5,014)	(5,039)	(2,789)	(28,459)	(2,885)	(833)		(10,053)	(3,718)	(34,966)	(61)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	84	81	77	72	62	59		165	121	270	151
Amortization of intangible assets	934	933	932	1,187	785	882		1,867	1,667	3,786	3,099
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets				27,477						27,477
Net pension (expense) credit	(17)	(17)	(17)	(15)	(18)	(15)		(34)	(33)	(65)	(82)
Identifiable assets	27,009		30,038				54,418	27,009		30,038	54,418
Corporate Office [Member]
Income (loss) from operations	(4,433)	(2,928)	(15,063)	(3,898)	(1,904)	(3,707)		(7,361)	(5,611)	(24,572)	(12,829)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	100	144	728	145	142	144		244	286	1,159	679
Net pension (expense) credit	9,247	9,297	9,369	8,571	8,570	8,089		18,544	16,659	34,599	33,836
Identifiable assets	886,772		774,484				729,706	886,772		774,484	729,706
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operating revenues	$ (742)	$ (1,139)	$ (861)	$ (2,013)	$ (2,084)	$ (2,096)		$ (1,881)	$ (4,180)	$ (7,054)	$ (6,385)