Impairment of Assets	12 Months Ended
Dec. 25, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges	Impairment of Assets 2011 In 2011, we recorded a $164.4 million impairment charge. At the News Media Group, the impairment consisted of the write-down of goodwill at the Regional Media Group of $152.1 million and the write-down of certain assets held for sale, primarily of Baseline, totaling $9.2 million. At the About Group, the impairment consisted of a write-down of an intangible asset at ConsumerSearch, Inc. of $3.1 million. Regional Media Group Goodwill is not amortized but tested for impairment annually or in an interim period if certain circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. Our policy is to perform our annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year. However, due to certain impairment indicators at the Regional Media Group, including lower-than-expected operating results, we performed an interim impairment test of goodwill as of June 26, 2011. The Regional Media Group is part of the News Media Group reportable segment. See Note 21 for information regarding the sale of the Regional Media Group on January 6, 2012. The interim test resulted in an impairment of goodwill of $152.1 million mainly from lower projected long-term operating results and cash flows of the Regional Media Group primarily due to the continued decline in print advertising revenues. These factors resulted in the carrying value of the net assets being greater than their fair value, and therefore a write-down to fair value was required. The impairment charge reduced the carrying value of goodwill at the Regional Media Group to $0. In determining the fair value of the Regional Media Group, we made significant judgments and estimates regarding the expected severity and duration of the uneven economic environment and the secular changes affecting the newspaper industry in the Regional Media Group markets. The effect of these assumptions on projected long-term revenues, along with the continued benefits from reductions to the group’s cost structure, played a significant role in calculating the fair value of the Regional Media Group. The fair value of the Regional Media Group’s goodwill was the residual fair value after allocating the total fair value of the Regional Media Group to its other assets, net of liabilities. The total fair value of the Regional Media Group was determined using a combination of a discounted cash flow model (present value of future cash flows) and a market approach model based on comparable businesses. We estimated a flat annual growth rate to arrive at a residual year representing the perpetual cash flows of the Regional Media Group. The residual year cash flow was capitalized to arrive at the terminal value of the Regional Media Group. Utilizing a discount rate of 10.7%, the present value of the cash flows during the projection period and terminal value were aggregated to estimate the fair value of the Regional Media Group. In the 2010 annual impairment test, we assumed a 2.0% annual growth rate and a discount rate of 10.5%. In determining the appropriate discount rate, we considered the weighted-average cost of capital for comparable companies. Property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment if certain circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. Due to the factors discussed above, we completed an interim impairment test of property, plant and equipment as of June 26, 2011. The impairment test was completed at each newspaper (asset group level with the lowest level of cash flows) in the Regional Media Group. Our test did not result in an impairment because the sum of the future undiscounted cash flows at each newspaper was greater than the carrying value of property, plant and equipment. About Group Our 2011 annual impairment test, which was completed in the fourth quarter, resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $3.1 million relating to the write-down of an intangible asset at ConsumerSearch, Inc. This impairment charge reduced the carrying value of the ConsumerSearch trade name to approximately $3 million. The fair value of the trade name was calculated using a relief-from-royalty method. The impairment was driven by lower cost-per-click advertising revenues. There were no additional impairment charges in connection with our 2011 annual impairment test. However, the About Group's estimated fair value was 18% greater than its carrying value in our 2011 impairment test compared with 60% in our 2010 impairment test, a significant decline during 2011. The About Group had approximately $367 million of goodwill as of December 25, 2011. In determining the fair value of the About Group, we made significant judgments and estimates regarding the expected recovery of display and cost-per-click advertising. The effect of these assumptions on projected long-term revenues, along with investments to grow content and traffic, play a significant role in calculating the fair value of the About Group. We believe if the long-term projected cash flows of the About Group are not met a goodwill impairment charge could be reasonably likely. Assets Held for Sale In the second quarter of 2011, we classified certain assets as held for sale, primarily of Baseline. The carrying value of these assets was greater than their fair value, less cost to sell, resulting in an impairment of certain intangible assets and property totaling $9.2 million. The impairment charge reduced the carrying value of intangible assets to $0 and the property to a nominal value. The fair value for these assets was determined by estimating the most likely sale price with a third-party buyer based on market data. In October 2011, we completed the sale of Baseline, which resulted in a nominal gain. 2010 We consolidated the printing facility of The Boston Globe (the “Globe”) in Billerica, Mass., into the Boston, Mass., printing facility in the second quarter of 2009. After exploring different opportunities for the assets at Billerica, we entered into an agreement in the third quarter of 2010 to sell the majority of these assets to a third party. Therefore, assets with a carrying value of approximately $20 million were written down to their fair value, resulting in a $16.1 million impairment charge in 2010. The fair value for these assets was calculated utilizing an offer from a third party to buy equipment from us and a real estate appraisal. 2009 In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded a $4.2 million charge for an impairment of assets due to the reduced scope of a systems project at the News Media Group. The assets were written down to $0 as the costs associated with this portion of the systems project was not utilized.

Impairment of Assets

2011

In 2011, we recorded a $164.4 million impairment charge. At the News Media Group, the impairment consisted of the write-down of goodwill at the Regional Media Group of $152.1 million and the write-down of certain assets held for sale, primarily of Baseline, totaling $9.2 million. At the About Group, the impairment consisted of a write-down of an intangible asset at ConsumerSearch, Inc. of $3.1 million.

Regional Media Group

Goodwill is not amortized but tested for impairment annually or in an interim period if certain circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. Our policy is to perform our annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year. However, due to certain impairment indicators at the Regional Media Group, including lower-than-expected operating results, we performed an interim impairment test of goodwill as of June 26, 2011. The Regional Media Group is part of the News Media Group reportable segment. See Note 21 for information regarding the sale of the Regional Media Group on January 6, 2012.

The interim test resulted in an impairment of goodwill of $152.1 million mainly from lower projected long-term operating results and cash flows of the Regional Media Group primarily due to the continued decline in print advertising revenues. These factors resulted in the carrying value of the net assets being greater than their fair value, and therefore a write-down to fair value was required. The impairment charge reduced the carrying value of goodwill at the Regional Media Group to $0.

In determining the fair value of the Regional Media Group, we made significant judgments and estimates regarding the expected severity and duration of the uneven economic environment and the secular changes affecting the newspaper industry in the Regional Media Group markets. The effect of these assumptions on projected long-term revenues, along with the continued benefits from reductions to the group’s cost structure, played a significant role in calculating the fair value of the Regional Media Group.

The fair value of the Regional Media Group’s goodwill was the residual fair value after allocating the total fair value of the Regional Media Group to its other assets, net of liabilities. The total fair value of the Regional Media Group was determined using a combination of a discounted cash flow model (present value of future cash flows) and a market approach model based on comparable businesses. We estimated a flat annual growth rate to arrive at a residual year representing the perpetual cash flows of the Regional Media Group. The residual year cash flow was capitalized to arrive at the terminal value of the Regional Media Group. Utilizing a discount rate of 10.7%, the present value of the cash flows during the projection period and terminal value were aggregated to estimate the fair value of the Regional Media Group. In the 2010 annual impairment test, we assumed a 2.0% annual growth rate and a discount rate of 10.5%. In determining the appropriate discount rate, we considered the weighted-average cost of capital for comparable companies.

Property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment if certain circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. Due to the factors discussed above, we completed an interim impairment test of property, plant and equipment as of June 26, 2011. The impairment test was completed at each newspaper (asset group level with the lowest level of cash flows) in the Regional Media Group. Our test did not result in an impairment because the sum of the future undiscounted cash flows at each newspaper was greater than the carrying value of property, plant and equipment.

About Group

Our 2011 annual impairment test, which was completed in the fourth quarter, resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of $3.1 million relating to the write-down of an intangible asset at ConsumerSearch, Inc. This impairment charge reduced the carrying value of the ConsumerSearch trade name to approximately $3 million. The fair value of the trade name was calculated using a relief-from-royalty method. The impairment was driven by lower cost-per-click advertising revenues.

There were no additional impairment charges in connection with our 2011 annual impairment test. However, the About Group's estimated fair value was 18% greater than its carrying value in our 2011 impairment test compared with 60% in our 2010 impairment test, a significant decline during 2011. The About Group had approximately $367 million of goodwill as of December 25, 2011.

In determining the fair value of the About Group, we made significant judgments and estimates regarding the expected recovery of display and cost-per-click advertising. The effect of these assumptions on projected long-term revenues, along with investments to grow content and traffic, play a significant role in calculating the fair value of the About Group. We believe if the long-term projected cash flows of the About Group are not met a goodwill impairment charge could be reasonably likely.

Assets Held for Sale

In the second quarter of 2011, we classified certain assets as held for sale, primarily of Baseline. The carrying value of these assets was greater than their fair value, less cost to sell, resulting in an impairment of certain intangible assets and property totaling $9.2 million. The impairment charge reduced the carrying value of intangible assets to $0 and the property to a nominal value. The fair value for these assets was determined by estimating the most likely sale price with a third-party buyer based on market data. In October 2011, we completed the sale of Baseline, which resulted in a nominal gain.

2010

We consolidated the printing facility of The Boston Globe (the “Globe”) in Billerica, Mass., into the Boston, Mass., printing facility in the second quarter of 2009. After exploring different opportunities for the assets at Billerica, we entered into an agreement in the third quarter of 2010 to sell the majority of these assets to a third party. Therefore, assets with a carrying value of approximately $20 million were written down to their fair value, resulting in a $16.1 million impairment charge in 2010. The fair value for these assets was calculated utilizing an offer from a third party to buy equipment from us and a real estate appraisal.

2009

In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded a $4.2 million charge for an impairment of assets due to the reduced scope of a systems project at the News Media Group. The assets were written down to $0 as the costs associated with this portion of the systems project was not utilized.