Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Sep. 23, 2012 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Non-Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Non-Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Non-Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Non-Qualified Plans [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Contributions to New York Times Newspaper Guild Pension Plan[Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Mar. 25, 2012 Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 23, 2012 Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	Sep. 25, 2011 Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Effect of remeasurement and curtailment	$ 3,000
Net periodic benefit cost/(income)
Service cost			3,271	3,396	9,926	10,188	2,894	3,019	8,795	9,057	377	377	1,131	1,131		239		290	717	870
Interest cost			27,295	28,284	81,942	84,852	24,130	24,998	72,447	74,994	3,165	3,286	9,495	9,858		1,246		1,825	3,738	5,475
Expected return on plan assets			(29,614)	(27,953)	(88,805)	(83,859)	(29,614)	(27,953)	(88,805)	(83,859)	0	0	0	0
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)			201	201	603	603	201	201	603	603	0	0	0	0		(3,778)		(3,901)	(11,334)	(11,703)
Recognized actuarial loss			8,633	7,249	25,894	21,747	7,471	6,445	22,408	19,335	1,162	804	3,486	2,412		832		481	2,496	1,443
Curtailment gain																0	27,213	0	(27,213)	0
Net periodic benefit cost/(income)			9,786	11,177	29,560	33,531	5,082	6,710	15,448	20,130	4,704	4,467	14,112	13,401		(1,461)		(1,305)	(31,596)	(3,915)
Estimated future contributions to pension plans based on contractual obligations for next fiscal year		44,000
Contributions to certain qualified pension plans															$ 37,000