Income taxes - Components of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Gannett Co., Inc. Before Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Domestic	$ 667,556	$ 568,534	$ 927,453
Foreign	(6,406)	(8,762)	(5,046)
Total	$ 661,150	$ 559,772	$ 922,407

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income taxes.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The portion of earnings or loss from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to domestic operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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- Definition

The portion of earnings or loss from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to foreign operations, which is defined as Income or Loss generated from operations located outside the entity's country of domicile.

+ References

+ Details

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- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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