Retirement plans (Tables) (Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member])

6 Months Ended

Jun. 24, 2012

Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Benefit costs

The Company and its subsidiaries have various retirement plans, including plans established under collective bargaining agreements. The Gannett Retirement Plan is the Company’s principal retirement plan. The Company’s retirement plan costs, which include costs for qualified and nonqualified plans, are presented in the following table:

(in thousands of dollars)
	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Twenty-six Weeks Ended
	Jun. 24, 2012			Jun. 26, 2011			Jun. 24, 2012			Jun. 26, 2011
Service cost-benefits earned during the period	$	1,747		$	1,841		$	3,779		$	3,946
Interest cost on benefit obligation		38,077			41,635			77,731			84,507
Expected return on plan assets		(47,145	)		(51,424	)		(94,794	)		(104,523	)
Amortization of prior service cost		1,917			1,859			3,845			3,734
Amortization of actuarial loss		12,919			9,508			26,424			18,789
Expense for Company-sponsored retirement plans		7,515			3,419			16,985			6,453
Settlement charges		5,423			—			5,423			—
Total retirement plan cost	$	12,938		$	3,419		$	22,408		$	6,453