Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2012		Mar. 25, 2012	Jun. 26, 2011		Jun. 24, 2012		Jun. 26, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	$ 515,212			$ 511,988		$ 1,014,588		$ 1,012,652
Operating profit/(loss)	(143,624)			31,492		(124,008)		57,411
Gain on sale of investments	37,797			0		55,645		5,898
Impairment of investments	0			0		4,900		0
Income/(loss) from joint ventures	1,079			2,791		1,050		(2,958)
Interest expense, net	15,464			25,152		30,916		49,743
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes	(120,212)			9,131		(103,129)		10,608
Income tax benefit/(expense)	36,541			(1,505)		32,465		(909)
Loss)/income from continuing operations	(83,671)			7,626		(70,664)		9,699
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4,505)			(127,449)		24,565		(124,296)
Net loss	(88,176)			(119,823)		(46,099)		(114,597)
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	27			105		80		298
Net loss attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	(88,149)			(119,718)		(46,019)		(114,299)
Accelerated depreciation			6,700
Impairment of assets	194,732			9,225		194,732		9,225
Pension withdrawal expense	0			4,228		0		4,228
Impairment of assets, goodwill						194,732
News Media Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	489,802			484,144		965,234		953,666
Operating profit/(loss)	52,211	[1]		29,422	[1]	75,285	[1]	55,298	[1]
Accelerated depreciation			6,700
Impairment of assets, goodwill						0
About Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenues	25,410			27,844		49,354		58,986
Operating profit/(loss)	(186,827)	[2]		11,475		(179,831)	[2]	25,622
Impairment of assets, goodwill	194,732					194,732
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Operating profit/(loss)	(9,008)			(9,405)		(19,462)		(23,509)
Assets Held-for-sale [Member] | News Media Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Impairment of assets				9,225
Withdrawal from Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plan [Member] | News Media Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Pension withdrawal expense				$ 4,228

[1] In the first quarter of 2012, we recorded a $6.7 million charge for accelerated depreciation for certain assets at the T&G’s facility in Millbury, Mass., associated with the consolidation of most of T&G’s printing into the Globe’s facility in Boston, Mass., which was completed early in the second quarter of 2012. In the second quarter of 2011, we recorded a $9.2 million impairment charge for certain assets held for sale at The New York Times Media Group, and a $4.2 million charge for a pension withdrawal obligation under a multiemployer pension plan at the Globe, which are both part of the News Media Group reportable segment.

[2] In the second quarter of 2012, we recorded a $194.7 million estimated non-cash impairment charge for goodwill at the About Group.