Accounting policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation: Our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial reporting, the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes which are normally included in the Form 10-K and annual report to shareholders. In our opinion, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our (or TEGNA’s) audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Use of estimates	The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted, and will continue to result, in significant economic disruption and will likely continue to adversely affect our business. The impact of COVID-19 (including variants) and the extent of its adverse impact on our financial and operating results will be dictated by the length of time that the pandemic continues to affect our advertising customers.We use the best information available in developing significant estimates inherent in our financial statements, including potential impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and these differences resulting from changes in facts and circumstances could be material. Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, evaluation of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, business combinations, fair value measurements, post-retirement benefit plans, income taxes including deferred taxes, and contingencies.
Consolidation	The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries we control. We eliminate all intercompany balances, transactions, and profits in consolidation. Investments in entities over which we have significant influence, but do not have control, are accounted for under the equity method. Our share of net earnings and losses from these ventures is included in “Equity (loss) income in unconsolidated investments, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Accounting guidance adopted in 2021 and New accounting guidance not yet adopted	Accounting guidance adopted in 2021: We did not adopt any new accounting guidance in 2021 that had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.New accounting guidance not yet adopted: There is currently no pending accounting guidance that we expect to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.
Trade receivables and allowances for doubtful accounts	Trade receivables and allowances for doubtful accounts: Trade receivables are recorded at invoiced amounts and generally do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our estimate of credit exposure, determined principally on the basis of our collection experience, aging of our receivables and any specific reserves needed for certain customers based on their credit risk. Our allowance also takes into account expected future trends which may impact our customers’ ability to pay, such as economic growth, unemployment and demand for our products and services, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these trends. We monitor the credit quality of our customers and their ability to pay through the use of analytics and communication with individual customers.
Available-for-sale investment	Available-for-sale investment: We hold a debt security investment issued by MadHive, Inc. (MadHive), that we classify as an available-for-sale investment. Under the terms of our investment agreement, our debt investment may convert into an equity investment either automatically or at our election based on the occurrence of certain specified events. This investment is carried at fair value and is included within the “Investments and other assets” line item on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Unrealized gains/losses on this investment are included within “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Gains and losses will be recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income when realized. See Note 3 for additional information.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Redeemable Noncontrolling interest: Our Premion business operates an advertising network for over-the-top (OTT) streaming and connected television platforms. In March 2020, we sold a minority interest in Premion to an affiliate of Gray Television (Gray) and entered into a 3 year commercial reselling agreement with the affiliate. Gray’s investment allows it to sell its interest to Premion if there is a change in control of TEGNA or if the existing commercial agreement terminates. Since redemption of the minority ownership interest is outside our control, Gray’s equity interest is presented outside of the Equity section on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet in the caption “Redeemable noncontrolling interest.”
Revenue recognition	Revenue recognition: Revenue is recognized upon the transfer of control of promised services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those services. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Amounts received from customers in advance of providing services to our customers are recorded as deferred revenue.The primary sources of our revenues are: 1) subscription revenues, reflecting fees paid by satellite, cable, OTT (companies that deliver video content to consumers over the Internet) and telecommunications providers to carry our television signals on their systems; 2) advertising & marketing services revenues, which include local and national non-political television advertising, digital marketing services (including Premion), advertising on the stations’ websites, tablet and mobile products, and OTT apps; 3) political advertising revenues, which are driven by even year election cycles at the local and national level (e.g. 2020, 2018, etc.) and particularly in the second half of those years; and 4) other services, such as production of programming, tower rentals, and distribution of our local news content.