(Loss)/Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011	Jun. 24, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011
Earnings per share
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	$ (83,644)	$ 7,731	$ (70,584)	$ 9,997
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4,505)	(127,449)	24,565	(124,296)
Net loss attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ (88,149)	$ (119,718)	$ (46,019)	$ (114,299)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic	148,005	147,176	147,936	146,976
Incremental shares for assumed exercise of securities	0	4,626	0	5,969
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	148,005	151,802	147,936	152,945
(Loss)/earnings per share, basic
(Loss)/income from continuing operations, per basic share	$ (0.57)	$ 0.05	$ (0.48)	$ 0.07
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per basic share	$ (0.03)	$ (0.86)	$ 0.17	$ (0.85)
Loss per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Basic	$ (0.60)	$ (0.81)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.78)
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
Loss/(income) from continuing operations, per diluted share	$ (0.57)	$ 0.05	$ (0.48)	$ 0.06
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per diluted share	$ (0.03)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.17	$ (0.81)
Loss per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Diluted	$ (0.60)	$ (0.79)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.75)
Stock Options [Member]
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	18,000	20,000	18,000	20,000
Warrants [Member]
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	15,900		15,900