Pension Benefits - Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 25, 2011
Pension Benefits
Percent of funded status policy minimum range	85.00%
Percent of funded status policy maximum range	90.00%
Long Duration Assets [Member]
Pension Benefits
Target allocation percentage of assets, range minimum	45.00%
Target allocation percentage of assets, range maximum	55.00%
Return Seeking Assets [Member]
Pension Benefits
Target allocation percentage of assets, range minimum	45.00%
Target allocation percentage of assets, range maximum	55.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	75.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	95.00%
Cash reserves target allocation, range minimum	0.00%
Cash reserves target allocation, range maximum	5.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	60.00%
Cash reserves asset allocation as of year end	0.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member] \| U.S. Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	55.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	70.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	43.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member] \| International Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	20.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	30.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	17.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member] \| Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Fixed income securities target allocation, range minimum	0.00%
Fixed income securities target allocation, range maximum	5.00%
Fixed income securities asset allocation as of year end	37.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member] \| Fixed Income Alternative Investments [Member]
Pension Benefits
Fixed income securities target allocation, range minimum	0.00%
Fixed income securities target allocation, range maximum	5.00%
Fixed income securities asset allocation as of year end	0.00%
Company Sponsored Pension Plan [Member] \| Equity Alternative Investments [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	0.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	5.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	3.00%
New York Times Newspaper Guild Pension Plan [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	50.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	75.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	64.00%
Cash reserves asset allocation as of year end	7.00%
New York Times Newspaper Guild Pension Plan [Member] \| U.S. Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	50.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	60.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	56.00%
New York Times Newspaper Guild Pension Plan [Member] \| International Equity Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Equity securities target allocation, range minimum	5.00%
Equity securities allocation, range maximum	15.00%
Equity securities asset allocation as of year end	8.00%
New York Times Newspaper Guild Pension Plan [Member] \| Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Pension Benefits
Fixed income securities target allocation, range minimum	25.00%
Fixed income securities target allocation, range maximum	45.00%
Fixed income securities asset allocation as of year end	29.00%

The target allocation percentage of total plan assets, maximum limit, per our asset allocation strategy.

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The target allocation percentage of total plan assets, minimum limit, per our asset allocation strategy.

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- Definition

Percent of Funded Status Policy Maximum Range

+ References

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Percent of Funded Status Policy, Minimum Range

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- Definition

The percentage of the fair value of debt securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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The percentage of the fair value of equity securities to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

+ References

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The percentage of the fair value of investments other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to the fair value of total plan assets held as of the measurement date.

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- Definition

Target allocation maximum percentage of investments in debt securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Target allocation minimum percentage of investments in debt securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)(i)

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Target allocation maximum percentage of investments in equity securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

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Target allocation minimum percentage of investments in equity securities to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

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Target allocation maximum percentage in other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

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Target allocation minimum percentage in other than debt securities, equity securities, and real estate to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position.

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