Earnings Per Share (Schedule of earnings per share reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to A. H. Belo Corporation	$ (13,657)	$ (3,956)	$ (592)	$ 363	$ 56,542	$ 18,444	$ 21,980	$ (4,037)	$ (17,842)	$ 92,929	$ 16,119
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net	$ (1)	$ (52)	$ 2	$ (12)	$ (12,407)	$ 16,125	$ 2,269	$ 783	(63)	6,770	14,010
Less: Income (loss) to participating securities									115	2,118	535
Net income available to common shareholders from continuing operations									$ (17,894)	$ 84,041	$ 1,574
Shares (denominator)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic)									21,408,940	21,899,602	21,967,666
Effect of dilutive securities										106,420	96,075
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding (diluted)									21,408,940	22,006,022	22,063,741
Earnings per share from continuing operations
Basic	$ (0.64)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.02	$ 3.09	$ 0.10	$ 0.86	$ (0.22)	$ (0.84)	$ 3.84	$ 0.07
Diluted	$ (0.64)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.02	$ 3.07	$ 0.10	$ 0.85	$ (0.22)	$ (0.84)	$ 3.82	$ 0.07