CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total New York Times Company Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Capital Stock Class A and Class B Common [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 28, 2008	$ 507,029	$ 503,963	$ 14,889	$ 22,149	$ 998,699	$ (159,679)	$ (372,095)	$ 3,066
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Net (loss)/income	19,901	19,891	0	0	19,891	0	0	10
Foreign currency translation income (net of taxes)	2,345	2,345	0	0	0	0	2,345	0
Unrealized derivative loss on cash-flow hedge of equity method investment (net of taxes)	(697)	(697)	0	0	0	0	(697)	0
Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and postretirement obligations (net of taxes)	46,808	46,683	0	0	0	0	46,683	125
Comprehensive income/(loss)	68,357	68,222						135
Issuance of warrants	20,529	20,529	0	20,529	0	0	0	0
Issuance of shares
Retirement units - Class A shares	45	45	0	(30)	0	75	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan - Class A shares	841	841	14	827	0	0	0	0
Stock options - Class A shares	429	429	12	417	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted shares forfeited - Class A shares	0	0	0	57	0	(57)	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(171)	(171)	0	(1,079)	0	908	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	2,474	2,474	0	(7,466)	0	9,940	0	0
Stock-based compensation	10,433	10,433	0	10,433	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(2,234)	(2,234)	0	(2,234)	0	0	0	0
Repurchases of stock - Class A shares	(489)	(489)	0	0	0	(489)	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 27, 2009	607,243	604,042	14,915	43,603	1,018,590	(149,302)	(323,764)	3,201
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Net (loss)/income	108,718	107,704	0	0	107,704	0	0	1,014
Foreign currency translation income (net of taxes)	(5,540)	(5,540)	0	0	0	0	(5,540)	0
Unrealized derivative loss on cash-flow hedge of equity method investment (net of taxes)	(446)	(446)	0	0	0	0	(446)	0
Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and postretirement obligations (net of taxes)	(57,387)	(57,321)	0	0	0	0	(57,321)	(66)
Comprehensive income/(loss)	45,345	44,397						948
Issuance of shares
Retirement units - Class A shares	318	318	0	(109)	0	427	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan - Class A shares	3,833	3,833	72	3,761	0	0	0	0
Stock options - Class A shares	938	938	25	913	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(1,352)	(1,352)	0	(6,180)	0	4,828	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	4,478	4,478	0	(5,106)	0	9,584	0	0
Stock-based compensation	7,119	7,119	0	7,119	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(3,846)	(3,846)	0	(3,846)	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 26, 2010	664,076	659,927	15,012	40,155	1,126,294	(134,463)	(387,071)	4,149
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Net (loss)/income	(40,224)	(39,669)	0	0	(39,669)	0	0	(555)
Foreign currency translation income (net of taxes)	(370)	(370)	0	0	0	0	(370)	0
Unrealized derivative loss on cash-flow hedge of equity method investment (net of taxes)	491	491	0	0	0	0	491	0
Change in unrecognized amounts included in pension and postretirement obligations (net of taxes)	(129,893)	(129,448)	0	0	0	0	(129,448)	(445)
Comprehensive income/(loss)	(169,996)	(168,996)						(1,000)
Issuance of shares
Employee stock purchase plan - Class A shares	4,318	4,318	60	4,258	0	0	0	0
Stock options - Class A shares	364	364	11	353	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(1,285)	(1,285)	0	(6,250)	0	4,965	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	6,724	6,724	0	(11,800)	0	18,524	0	0
Stock-based compensation	9,410	9,410	0	9,410	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(4,102)	(4,102)	0	(4,102)	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 25, 2011	$ 509,509	$ 506,360	$ 15,083	$ 32,024	$ 1,086,625	$ (110,974)	$ (516,398)	$ 3,149