SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Cash flow (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 27, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Cash Flow Information
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized)	$ 11,087	$ 12,695
Income taxes paid (net of refunds)	(5,850)	$ 178,581
Other non-cash investing activities
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan	47,130
Reduction in pension obligation	$ (47,130)

Represents the value of a financing obligation as a contribution of real property to a pension plan.

No definition available.

Name:	mni_FinancingObligationForContributionOfRealPropertyToPensionPlan
Namespace Prefix:	mni_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Net increase or decrease in the plan benefit obligation during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income, net of any cash received during the current period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period net of cash paid for interest that is capitalized.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPaidNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration