CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Retained earnings Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Treasury stock
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 995,041	$ (3,724)	$ 324,419	$ 382,127	$ 6,062,995	$ 21,121	$ (106,923)	$ (24,845)	$ (5,667,577)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	405,665				405,665
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(4,743)						(4,743)
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	400,922
Dividends declared	(60,269)				(60,269)
Treasury stock acquired	(5,831)								(5,831)
Stock-based awards activity	(500)			(96,060)					95,560
Stock-based compensation	12,531			12,531
Other activity	2,754			2,754
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,340,924		324,419	301,352	6,429,512		(136,511)		(5,577,848)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	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 Dec. 31, 2018	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	286,235				286,235
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,086)						(6,086)
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	280,149
Dividends declared	(60,659)				(60,659)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	9,558			(23,090)					32,648
Stock-based awards activity	(820)			(51,990)					51,170
Stock-based compensation	20,146			20,146
Other activity	1,079			1,079
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	1,590,377		324,419	247,497	6,655,088		(142,597)		(5,494,030)
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 Dec. 31, 2019	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	482,778				482,778
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	21,521						21,521
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	504,299
Dividends declared	(61,278)				(61,278)
Company stock 401(k) contribution	16,469			(71,808)					88,277
Stock-based awards activity	(9,207)			(80,805)					71,598
Stock-based compensation	20,306			20,306
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(933)				(933)
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	(15)				(15)
Other activity	(1,923)			(1,923)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	2,058,095		$ 324,419	$ 113,267	$ 7,075,640		$ (121,076)		$ (5,334,155)
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (loss)	(15)
Sale of minority ownership interest in Premion	14,000
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest	933
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	15
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 14,933