Segment reporting -Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	$ 777,084	$ 948,682
Adjusted EBITDA	100,465	99,069
Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	388,357	487,010
Circulation
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	325,437	374,723
Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	63,290	86,949
Operating Segments | Publishing
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	699,585	858,150
Adjusted EBITDA	102,208	110,928
Operating Segments | Publishing | Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	286,454	369,878
Operating Segments | Publishing | Circulation
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	325,436	374,720
Operating Segments | Publishing | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	59,839	79,794
Operating Segments | Digital Marketing Solutions
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	102,281	121,281
Adjusted EBITDA	9,172	7,887
Operating Segments | Digital Marketing Solutions | Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	101,376	116,283
Operating Segments | Digital Marketing Solutions | Circulation
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Digital Marketing Solutions | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	905	4,998
Corporate and other
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	3,074	3,009
Adjusted EBITDA	(10,915)	(19,746)
Corporate and other | Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	527	849
Corporate and other | Circulation
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	1	3
Corporate and other | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	2,546	2,157
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	(27,856)	(33,758)
Intersegment Eliminations | Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	(27,856)	(33,758)
Intersegment Eliminations | Publishing | Advertising and marketing services
Segment Reporting Information
Total operating revenues	$ (27,856)	$ (33,758)