Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2018	Aug. 03, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	MCCLATCHY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 01, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Common Class A
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,347,337
Common Class B
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,428,191