CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Dec. 27, 2009
Revenues
Advertising	$ 1,221,497	$ 1,300,361	$ 1,336,291
Circulation	941,468	931,493	936,486
Other	160,436	161,609	167,662
Total revenues	2,323,401	2,393,463	2,440,439
Production costs:
Raw materials	161,691	160,422	166,387
Wages and benefits	495,607	498,270	524,782
Other	300,169	303,086	330,061
Total production costs	957,467	961,778	1,021,230
Selling, general and administrative costs	1,019,611	1,054,199	1,152,874
Depreciation and amortization	116,454	120,950	133,696
Total operating costs	2,093,532	2,136,927	2,307,800
Impairment of assets	164,434	16,148	4,179
Pension withdrawal expense	4,228	6,268	78,931
Loss on leases and other expenses	4,500	0	34,633
Net pension curtailment gain	0	0	53,965
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	5,198
Operating profit	56,707	234,120	74,059
Gain on sale of investments	71,171	9,128	0
Income from joint ventures	28	19,035	20,667
Premium on debt redemptions	46,381	0	9,250
Interest expense, net	85,243	85,062	81,701
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes	(3,718)	177,221	3,775
Income tax expense	36,506	68,516	2,206
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	(40,224)	108,705	1,569
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	0	(1,156)
Gain on sale, net of income taxes	0	13	19,488
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	13	18,332
Net (loss)/income	(40,224)	108,718	19,901
Net loss/(income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	555	(1,014)	(10)
Net (loss)/income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	(39,669)	107,704	19,891
Amounts attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	(39,669)	107,691	1,559
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	13	18,332
Net (loss)/income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ (39,669)	$ 107,704	$ 19,891
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	147,190	145,636	144,188
Diluted	147,190	152,600	146,367
Basic (loss)/earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	$ (0.27)	$ 0.74	$ 0.01
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
(Loss)/income per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Basic	$ (0.27)	$ 0.74	$ 0.14
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	$ (0.27)	$ 0.71	$ 0.01
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.13
Net (loss)/income per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Diluted	$ (0.27)	$ 0.71	$ 0.14