Fair Value Measurement - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 29, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation investments	$ 77,004	$ 77,199
Available for sale investment in Gannett's outstanding shares held by Tegna (as a percent of shares outstanding)			1.50%
Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation investments	77,004	77,199
Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Deferred compensation investments	0	0
Fair value of total long-term debt	$ 4,370,000	$ 4,310,000
Available-for-sale Securities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale investment in Gannett's outstanding shares held by Tegna (as a percent of shares outstanding)	1.50%