Quarterly Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Sep. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2011	Mar. 27, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Sep. 26, 2010	Jun. 27, 2010	Mar. 28, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009	Jun. 26, 2011 Assets Held-for-sale [Member]	Dec. 25, 2011 About Group's Consumersearch Tradename [Member]	Dec. 25, 2011 Notes Due 2015 Called 2011 [Member]	Aug. 15, 2011 Notes Due 2015 Called 2011 [Member]	Mar. 28, 2010 Madison Paper Industries [Member]	Mar. 28, 2010 Gain on Sale at Madison Paper Industries Net of Non Controlling Interest [Member]
Total revenues	$ 642,960	$ 537,235	$ 576,702	$ 566,504	$ 661,676	$ 554,333	$ 589,587	$ 587,867		$ 2,323,401	$ 2,393,463	$ 2,440,439
Total operating costs	528,679	504,190	525,233	535,430	550,032	522,924	528,762	535,209		2,093,532	2,136,927	2,307,800
Impairment of assets	3,116	0	161,318	0	0	16,148	0	0		164,434	16,148	4,179		3,116
Pension withdrawal expense	0	0	4,228	0	0	6,268	0	0		4,228	6,268	78,931
Loss on leases and other expenses	4,500	0	0	0					3,500	4,500	0	34,633
Operating profit	106,665	33,045	(114,077)	31,074	111,644	8,993	60,825	52,658		56,707	234,120	74,059
Gain on sale of investments	0	65,273	0	5,898	0	0	9,128	0		71,171	9,128	0
Income from joint ventures	4,054	(1,068)	2,791	(5,749)	(3,236)	5,482	7,678	9,111		28	19,035	20,667					12,700	10,200
Premium on debt redemptions	0	46,381	0	0						46,381	0	9,250
Interest expense, net	(15,461)	(20,039)	(25,152)	(24,591)	(23,237)	(20,627)	(20,614)	(20,584)		85,243	85,062	81,701
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes	95,258	30,830	(136,438)	6,632	85,171	(6,152)	57,017	41,185		(3,718)	177,221	3,775
Income tax expense	36,353	15,362	(16,615)	1,406	18,072	(2,018)	25,435	27,027		36,506	68,516	2,206
(Loss)/income from continuing operations					67,099	(4,134)	31,582	14,158		(40,224)	108,705	1,569
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					0	(224)	237	0		0	13	18,332
Net (loss)/income	58,905	15,468	(119,823)	5,226	67,099	(4,358)	31,819	14,158		(40,224)	108,718	19,901
Net loss/(income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	40	217	105	193	40	97	214	(1,365)		(555)	1,014	10
Net (loss)/income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	58,945	15,685	(119,718)	5,419	67,139	(4,261)	32,033	12,793		(39,669)	107,704	19,891
(Loss)/income from continuing operations					67,139	(4,037)	31,796	12,793		(39,669)	107,691	1,559
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic	147,451	147,355	147,176	146,777	145,947	145,803	145,601	145,195		147,190	145,636	144,188
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	149,887	151,293	147,176	153,760	151,048	145,803	152,962	153,924		147,190	152,600	146,367
(Loss)/income from continuing operations					$ 0.46	$ (0.03)	$ 0.22	$ 0.09		$ (0.27)	$ 0.74	$ 0.01
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Income/(loss) per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Basic	$ 0.40	$ 0.11	$ (0.81)	$ 0.04	$ 0.46	$ (0.03)	$ 0.22	$ 0.09		$ (0.27)	$ 0.74	$ 0.14
(Loss)/income from continuing operations					$ 0.44	$ (0.03)	$ 0.21	$ 0.08		$ (0.27)	$ 0.71	$ 0.01
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes					$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00		$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Income/(loss) per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.10	$ (0.81)	$ 0.04	$ 0.44	$ (0.03)	$ 0.21	$ 0.08		$ (0.27)	$ 0.71	$ 0.14
Impairment of assets, goodwill			152,093							152,093
Impairment of assets, property, plant and equipment										1,767	16,148	4,179	9,225
Debt instrument, face amount															250,000	250,000
Interest rate on debt																14.053%
Units sold in Fenway Sports Group		390					50
Tax charge for reduction in future tax benefits for certain retiree health benefits					$ 500			$ 10,900			$ 11,400