Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Jun. 22, 2012	Feb. 22, 2013 Common Class A	Feb. 22, 2013 Common Class B
Entity Registrant Name	MCCLATCHY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	We are filing this Amendement No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the "Form 10-K/A") to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2012 ("Form 10-K") that was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 6, 2013 ("Form 10-K"), to present circulation revenues associated with our "fee for service" contracts with distributors and carriers on a gross basis, as opposed to on a net basis as previously presented in the Form 10-K, and to correct an administrative error in the disclosure of the date associated with our first fiscal quarter in 2013. Subsequent to the filing of our Form 10-K on March 6, 2013, we determined that circulation revenues associated with our "fee for service" contracts with distributors and carriers should be presented on a gross basis as opposed to on a net basis as previously presented, as we are established as the primary obligor through subscriber agreements. The difference in presentation results in delivery costs associated with these contracts being reported as other operating expenses, rather than as a reduction in circulation revenues, in our consolidated statements of operations. We believe this correction is not material to our previously issued financial statements for prior periods. Accordingly, the classifications in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 30, 2012, December 25, 2011, December 26, 2010, December 27, 2009 and December 28, 2008 and the respective fiscal quarters in the years ended December 30, 2012 and December 25, 2011 have been corrected in this Form 10-K/A, resulting in immaterial increases to circulation revenues and equivalent increases to other operating expenses. There is no impact to the previously reported operating income, net income (loss) or net income (loss) per common share in any of the periods presented. Additionally, our Form 10-K inadvertently referred to March 24, 2013 as the last day of our first fiscal quarter of 2013 within footnote 5, as well as within the Management's Discussion and Analysis, when speaking to subsequent debt repurchases. The correct date is March 31, 2013. Except for the items noted herein, no other changes have been made to the Form 10-K. This Form 10-K/A has not been updated for events occurring after the filing of the Form 10-K and no attempt has been made in this Form 10-K/A to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the original filing of the Form 10-K. The following items have been amended as a result of the restatement: Part II, Item 6. Selected Financial Data Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data In accordance with applicable SEC rules, this Form 10-K/A includes certifications from our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer dated as of the date of this filing.
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 135.3
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			61,170,502	24,800,962
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY