Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2016	Apr. 27, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	MCCLATCHY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0001056087
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 27, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-25
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Class A
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		54,217,961
Common Class B
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,431,962