Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2019	Nov. 08, 2019
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 29, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	McClatchy Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,502,435
Common Class B
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,428,191