Earnings/(Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012	Mar. 27, 2011
Earnings per share
Income from continuing operations	$ 13,060	$ 2,266
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	29,070	3,153
Net income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ 42,130	$ 5,419
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic	147,867	146,777
Incremental shares for assumed exercise of securities	3,601	6,983
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	151,468	153,760
Earnings per share, basic
Income from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 0.09	$ 0.02
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per basic share	$ 0.19	$ 0.02
Income per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Basic	$ 0.28	$ 0.04
Earnings per share, diluted
Income from continuing operations, per diluted share	$ 0.09	$ 0.02
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per diluted share	$ 0.19	$ 0.02
Income per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Diluted	$ 0.28	$ 0.04
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings per share, diluted
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	16,000	20,000