Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 25, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	GCI
Entity Registrant Name	GANNETT CO INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000039899
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	234,955,956