Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income from continuing operations	$ 92,826	$ 50,754	$ 240,525	$ 144,682
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,325	(10,803)	4,325	(233,261)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations	0	2,806	0	58,698
Net income (loss) attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 97,151	$ 42,757	$ 244,850	$ (29,881)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	216,015	215,863	216,210	215,558
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	216,348	218,095	216,617	217,827
Earnings from continuing operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.24	$ 1.11	$ 0.67
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - basic (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.81)
Net income (loss) per share – basic (In dollars per share)	0.45	0.20	1.13	(0.14)
Earnings from continuing operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.43	0.23	1.11	0.66
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.02	(0.80)
Net income (loss) per share – diluted (In dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.19	$ 1.13	$ (0.14)
Restricted stock units
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	167	828	116	880
Performance share units
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	0	721	72	674
Stock options
Effect of dilutive securities:
Dilutive securities (in shares)	166	683	219	715