INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED COMPANIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2014	May. 07, 2014	Apr. 01, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 27, 2015	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2014	Dec. 27, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Investments in unconsolidated companies					$ 233,538		$ 230,473		$ 233,538	$ 230,473
Intangible asset - newswire content										3,100
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal									8,061	705,247
Write down of certain unconsolidated investments							7,800		8,200	7,800
Dividends paid by the equity investees to the entity									14,960	162,326
Amount payable to the entity's less-than 50% owned companies					1,000		1,500		1,000	1,500
Proceeds from sale of equity investments									7,428	1,621	$ 2,932
Distributions of income from equity investments									7,500	160,707	39,504
Goodwill impairment charge									290,941	0	0	$ 0
Apartments.Com Business
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Gain on sale								$ 144,200
Apartments.Com Business | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Gain on sale										144,200
Distributions of income from equity investments			$ 146,900
Classified Ventures LLC
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Gain on sale							559,300
Classified Ventures LLC | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Proceeds from sale	$ 606,200				25,600
Gain on sale				$ 7,500		$ 600	559,300
Proceeds before taxes and escrow	$ 631,800
Escrow Deposit					$ 25,600				25,600
Term of Agreement	5 years
McClatchy Tribune Information Services Member
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Gain on sale								$ 1,700
McClatchy Tribune Information Services Member | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Gain on sale		$ 1,700
Term of Agreement		10 years
Newswire Content Cost									$ 0
Intangible asset - newswire content		$ 3,100
Career Builder LLC
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Ownership Interest (as a percent)					15.00%				15.00%
Investments in unconsolidated companies					$ 230,170		226,965		$ 230,170	226,965
Dividends paid by the equity investees to the entity									7,500	6,750
Expenses incurred for products provided by the entity's less-than 50% owned companies									$ 1,001	1,024	1,109
Seattle Times Company (C-Corporation)
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Ownership Interest (as a percent)					49.50%				49.50%
Investments in unconsolidated companies					$ 0				$ 0
Ponderay (general partnership)
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Ownership Interest (as a percent)					27.00%				27.00%
Expenses incurred for products provided by the entity's less-than 50% owned companies									$ 8,200	10,433	$ 16,313
Goodwill impairment charge					$ 7,500
Other
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Investments in unconsolidated companies					$ 3,368		$ 3,508		3,368	3,508
Dividends paid by the equity investees to the entity									$ 7,460	$ 155,576
Classified Ventures, LLC Selling Partners | Classified Ventures LLC | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Proceeds from sale	$ 2,500,000
Classified Ventures LLC | Apartments.Com Business | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Investments in unconsolidated companies and joint ventures
Proceeds from sale			$ 585,000