Consolidated Statements of Equity And Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury stock
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,340,924	$ 324,419	$ 301,352	$ 6,429,512	$ (136,511)	$ (5,577,848)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	202,280			202,280
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	3,152				3,152
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	205,432
Dividends declared	(45,471)			(45,471)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	6,486		(15,053)			21,539
Stock-based awards activity	(499)		(48,899)			48,400
Stock-based compensation	13,887		13,887
Other activity	937		937
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,521,696	324,419	252,224	6,586,321	(133,359)	(5,507,909)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	0
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	0
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019	1,479,742	324,419	256,024	6,553,149	(134,194)	(5,519,656)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	48,346			48,346
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	835				835
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	49,181
Dividends declared	(15,174)			(15,174)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	3,242		(7,794)			11,036
Stock-based awards activity	(52)		(763)			711
Stock-based compensation	4,445		4,445
Other activity	312		312
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,521,696	324,419	252,224	6,586,321	(133,359)	(5,507,909)
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	0
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	0
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	1,590,377	324,419	247,497	6,655,088	(142,597)	(5,494,030)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	238,474			238,474
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	3,510				3,510
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	241,984
Dividends declared	(45,922)			(45,922)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	13,023		(57,606)			70,629
Stock-based awards activity	(9,151)		(80,408)			71,257
Stock-based compensation	12,578		12,578
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(653)			(653)
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	(433)			(433)
Other activity	(2,267)		(2,267)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	1,799,536	324,419	119,794	6,846,554	(139,087)	(5,352,144)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	(433)
Sale of minority ownership interest in Premion	14,000
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	653
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	433
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	14,653
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020	1,675,307	324,419	140,255	6,729,896	(140,179)	(5,379,084)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	132,219			132,219
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,092				1,092
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	133,311
Dividends declared	(15,332)			(15,332)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	4,458		(21,886)			26,344
Stock-based awards activity	(56)		(652)			596
Stock-based compensation	5,010		5,010
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(280)			(280)
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	51			51
Other activity	(2,933)		(2,933)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	1,799,536	$ 324,419	$ 119,794	$ 6,846,554	$ (139,087)	$ (5,352,144)
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020	14,373
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	51
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	280
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	(51)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 14,653