SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 newspaper	Mar. 25, 2012	Dec. 30, 2012
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Number of daily newspapers	30
Length of fiscal quarter	91 days
Correction of error adjustment
Increases to circulation revenues	$ 85,828,000	$ 84,791,000
Increases to other operating expenses	100,774,000	100,985,000
Long-term debt fair value disclosure
Estimated fair value of long-term debt	1,600,000,000
Carrying value of long-term debt	1,528,442,000		1,670,346,000
Intangible assets subject to amortization, gross
Balance at the beginning of the period	834,961,000
Balance at the end of the period	834,961,000
Accumulated amortization
Balance at the beginning of the period	(510,546,000)
Amortization Expense	(14,251,000)
Balance at the end of the period	(524,797,000)
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net
Balance at the beginning of the period	324,415,000
Amortization Expense	(14,251,000)
Balance at the end of the period	310,164,000
Mastheads
Balance at the beginning of the period	203,587,000
Balance at the end of the period	203,587,000
Goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,012,011,000
Balance at the end of the period	1,012,011,000
Total
Balance at the beginning of the period	1,540,013,000
Amortization Expense	(14,251,000)
Balance at the end of the period	1,525,762,000
Estimated amortization expense
2013 (remainder)	42,753,000
2014	52,524,000
2015	48,030,000
2016	47,721,000
2017	48,552,000
2018	46,977,000
Correction of error adjustment
Correction of error adjustment
Increases to circulation revenues		18,400,000
Increases to other operating expenses		$ 18,400,000
Career Builder LLC
Related Party Transaction
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	15.00%
Classified Ventures LLC
Related Party Transaction
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	25.60%
Home Finder LLC
Related Party Transaction
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	33.30%
Wanderful Media
Related Party Transaction
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	11.40%