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Retirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Dec. 29, 2013
Dec. 30, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
401(k) employer matching contribution 100.00%gci_Employer401KMatchingContribution    
Other long-term liabilities, withdrawal liabilities for multi-employer pension plans $ 41,200,000us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation $ 34,100,000us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation  
Maximum      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Employer's contributions as a percent of total contribution 5.00%gci_MultiEmployerPlanEmployerContributionPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Plans in red zone | Maximum      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Multi-employer plans funded percentage (less than 65% of red zone, less than 80% of orange zone, and at least 80% of green zone plans in 2012) Less than 65 percent    
Plans in yellow zone | Maximum      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Multi-employer plans funded percentage (less than 65% of red zone, less than 80% of orange zone, and at least 80% of green zone plans in 2012) Between 65 and less than 80 percent    
Plans in yellow zone | Minimum      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Multi-employer plans funded percentage (less than 65% of red zone, less than 80% of orange zone, and at least 80% of green zone plans in 2012) At least 80 percent    
Retirement Plans      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Accumulated benefit obligation 3,980,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
3,650,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation 3,979,493,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
3,568,021,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Fair value of plan assets 3,042,514,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
2,938,480,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Aggregate benefit obligation 3,999,804,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
3,585,947,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Aggregate fair value of plan assets 3,042,514,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
2,938,480,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Net actuarial losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,811,857,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(1,390,975,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Prior service credits (46,383,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(53,949,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Actuarial loss estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost (60,500,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (1,858,240,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
(1,444,924,000)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Prior service credit estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost 7,600,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Employer contribution 103,933,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
107,086,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets 7.93%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
7.94%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
7.95%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Actual rate of return on plan assets 5.20%gci_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
16.40%gci_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
12.60%gci_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Plan assets, shares of common stock 1.2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfSharesOfEquitySecuritiesIssuedByEmployerAndRelatedPartiesIncludedInPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Plan assets, value of common stock 39,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountOfEmployerAndRelatedPartySecuritiesIncludedInPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
36,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountOfEmployerAndRelatedPartySecuritiesIncludedInPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Plan assets, dividends received 1,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeDividend
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
1,000,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeDividend
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
 
Gannett Retirement Plan | Retirement Plans      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Employer contribution 56,100,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gci_GannettRetirementPlanMember
   
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year 12,000,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gci_GannettRetirementPlanMember
   
Dealey | Retirement Plans      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Employer contribution 20,100,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gci_DealeyMember
   
Newsquest Plan | Retirement Plans      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Employer contribution 14,700,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gci_NewsquestMember
   
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year 12,800,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= gci_NewsquestMember
   
Multiemployer Plans, Pension      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Expenses incurred for multi-employer withdrawal liabilities $ 8,200,000gci_MultiemployerPlanExpenses
/ us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansPensionMember
  3,800,000gci_MultiemployerPlanExpenses
/ us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansPensionMember
Newspaper Guild Of Detroit      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Employer's contributions as a percent of total contribution 13.00%gci_MultiEmployerPlanEmployerContributionPercentage
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= gci_NewspaperGuildOfDetroitMember