Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income Percentage Increase (Decrease) (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012
Net Operating Revenues	(2.60%)
Operating Expenses	1.00%
Operating income	(24.10%)
Non-operating (expense) income	(20.70%)
Income before income taxes	(25.10%)
Provision for income taxes	(31.10%)
Net income	(22.70%)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.50%)
Net income attributable to Gannett Co., Inc.	(24.60%)
Net income per share - basic	(23.70%)
Net income per share - diluted	(24.30%)
Dividends declared per share
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments
Non-operating (expense) income	24.70%
Interest Expense
Non-operating (expense) income	(15.10%)
Other Nonoperating Income Expense
Non-operating (expense) income	56.90%
Cost of Sales
Operating Expenses	0.70%
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
Operating Expenses	3.60%
Depreciation
Operating Expenses	(4.60%)
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Operating Expenses	(4.90%)
Asset Impairment and Other Charges
Operating Expenses	(37.50%)
Publishing
Net Operating Revenues	(6.00%)
Operating income	(47.20%)
Publishing | Advertising
Net Operating Revenues	(8.40%)
Publishing | Circulation
Net Operating Revenues	(1.80%)
Publishing | All Other
Net Operating Revenues	(0.90%)
Digital
Net Operating Revenues	6.80%
Operating income	1.10%
Broadcasting
Net Operating Revenues	7.50%
Operating income	14.40%