Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	May 03, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	MCCLATCHY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Class A
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,496,942
Common Class B
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,428,191