Segment Information - Statements of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
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
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
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
Discontinued operations											0	(1,156)
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	(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
Impairment of assets	3,116	0	161,318	0	0	16,148	0	0		164,434	16,148	4,179
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
Gain on sale of assets										0	0	5,198
Net pension curtailment gain										0	0	53,965
News Media Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues										2,212,575	2,257,386	2,319,378
Operating profit										60,853	219,242	21,163
Net pension curtailment gain												2,706
About Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues										110,826	136,077	121,061
Operating profit										40,674	61,952	50,881
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit										(44,820)	(47,074)	2,015
Net pension curtailment gain												$ 56,671