Business Segment Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 5,353,197	$ 5,239,989	$ 5,438,678
Operating income (loss)	789,755	830,791	999,695
Depreciation, amortization and facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	316,168	224,616	270,885
Equity income (losses) in unconsolidated investees, net	22,387	8,197	19,140
Identifiable assets	6,379,886	6,616,450	6,816,844
Capital expenditures	91,874	72,451	69,070
Publishing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,728,144	3,831,108	4,050,839
Operating income (loss)	368,644	477,583	647,741
Depreciation, amortization and facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	147,750	148,537	170,073
Equity income (losses) in unconsolidated investees, net	23,380	8,543	19,337
Identifiable assets	2,850,915	3,032,605	3,162,655
Capital expenditures	56,597	40,175	36,776
Digital
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	718,949	686,471	618,259
Operating income (loss)	41,700	125,340	83,355
Depreciation, amortization and facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	123,990	30,693	43,313
Equity income (losses) in unconsolidated investees, net	(396)	(184)	(197)
Identifiable assets	1,009,821	1,014,805	1,057,898
Capital expenditures	17,220	15,673	11,883
Broadcasting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	906,104	722,410	769,580
Operating income (loss)	443,808	302,140	329,245
Depreciation, amortization and facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	28,007	28,926	40,460
Equity income (losses) in unconsolidated investees, net	(597)	(162)	0
Identifiable assets	2,001,979	1,994,051	2,003,929
Capital expenditures	17,473	15,263	19,694
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(64,397)	(74,272)	(60,646)
Depreciation, amortization and facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	16,421	16,460	17,039
Identifiable assets	517,171	574,989	592,362
Capital expenditures	$ 584	$ 1,340	$ 717