Represents the ownership percentage of the entity in each of the guarantor subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	mni_GuarantorSubsidiariesOwnership
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum consolidated leverage ratio allowed under the credit facility before triggering dividend restrictions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_LineOfCreditFacilityDividendRestrictionsMaximumLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum borrowing capacity of the entity under its line of credit facilities prior to amendment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityBeforeAmendment
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum consolidated leverage ratio permitted by the debt covenants of the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_MaximumConsolidatedLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the minimum threshold amount of debt, net of cash on hand used to calculate the consolidated total leverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_MinimumThresholdAmountOfDebtNetOfCashOnHandUsedToCalculateConsolidatedTotalLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of aggregate undrawn amount of letter of credit required for cash collateral.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_PercentageOfAggregateUndrawnAmountOfLetterOfCreditRequiredForCashCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=mni_Amendment21October2014Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=mni_SeniorSecuredNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

LONG-TERM DEBT - Notes and Covenants (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Oct. 21, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 26, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017
LONG-TERM DEBT
Face value of notes retired or repurchased			$ 0
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net		$ (5,349)
Amendment 21 October 2014
LONG-TERM DEBT
Maximum borrowing capacity, before amendment		$ 65,000
Revolving credit facility \| LIBOR
LONG-TERM DEBT
Variable rate basis		London Interbank Offered Rate
Revolving credit facility \| Base rate
LONG-TERM DEBT
Variable rate basis		base rate
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014
LONG-TERM DEBT
Outstanding line of credit		$ 0
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio		6.00
Minimum threshold amount of debt used to calculate consolidated total leverage ratio		$ 20,000
Dividends restricted if consolidated leverage ratio is exceeded		5.25
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| Minimum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Commitment fees for the unused revolving credit (as a percent)		0.50%
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| Maximum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Commitment fees for the unused revolving credit (as a percent)		0.625%
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| LIBOR \| Minimum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		2.75%
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| LIBOR \| Maximum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		4.25%
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| Base rate \| Minimum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		1.75%
Revolving credit facility \| Amendment 21 October 2014 \| Base rate \| Maximum
LONG-TERM DEBT
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)		3.25%
Letter of credit
LONG-TERM DEBT
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 35,000
Percentage of aggregate undrawn amount of letter of credit required to provide cash collateral	101.00%
Outstanding letters of credit		$ 29,700
9.00% senior secured notes due in 2022
LONG-TERM DEBT
Interest rate (as a percent)		9.00%		9.00%
Ownership percentage in each of the guarantor subsidiaries		100.00%
Face value of notes retired or repurchased		$ 75,000
Notes repurchased privately		$ 20,000