Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Jun. 19, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 29, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	McClatchy Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-27
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,506,185
Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,428,191