Represents the length of a fiscal years of the reporting entity.

No definition available.

Name:	mni_LengthOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of media companies operated by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_NumberOfMediaCompanies
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of daily newspapers published by the reporting entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_NumberOfNewspapersPublished
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of states in which the entity has operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mni_NumberOfStates
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsAndJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=mni_CareerBuilderLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=mni_HomeFinderLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 27, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2013
Investments in Unconsolidated Companies Activity
Number of media companies	29
Number of markets	28
Number of states	14
Length of fiscal year	364 days	364 days	364 days
Long-term debt fair value disclosure
Estimated fair value of long-term debt \| $	$ 729.8	$ 994.8
Career Builder LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Companies Activity
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	15.00%
Home Finder LLC
Investments in Unconsolidated Companies Activity
Ownership Interest (as a percent)	33.30%