Supplemental Equity Information - Equity Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 2,456,744	$ 3,489,273
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 133,435	$ 105,742	343,756	364,718
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (income not available to shareholders)	(1,353)	(310)	(3,628)	(1,595)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,641)	35,741	(12,234)	51,921
Comprehensive income	127,441	141,173	327,894	415,044
Dividends declared			(90,755)	(122,480)
Stock-based compensation			13,216	17,112
Treasury shares acquired			(150,917)	(200,569)
Spin-off of Publishing businesses			(39,456)	(1,209,782)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes and tax windfall benefits			(20,568)	(4,579)
Ending Balance	2,496,158	2,384,019	2,496,158	2,384,019
TEGNA Inc. Shareholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			2,191,971	3,254,914
Comprehensive income:
Net income			303,578	317,017
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (income not available to shareholders)			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(8,497)	56,497
Comprehensive income			295,081	373,514
Dividends declared			(90,755)	(122,480)
Stock-based compensation			13,216	17,112
Treasury shares acquired			(150,917)	(200,569)
Spin-off of Publishing businesses			(39,456)	(1,209,782)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes and tax windfall benefits			(17,645)	20,192
Ending Balance	2,201,495	2,132,901	2,201,495	2,132,901
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			264,773	234,359
Comprehensive income:
Net income			40,178	47,701
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (income not available to shareholders)			(3,628)	(1,595)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(3,737)	(4,576)
Comprehensive income			32,813	41,530
Dividends declared			0	0
Stock-based compensation			0	0
Treasury shares acquired			0	0
Spin-off of Publishing businesses			0	0
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes and tax windfall benefits			(2,923)	(24,771)
Ending Balance	$ 294,663	$ 251,118	$ 294,663	$ 251,118