CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total New York Times Company Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Capital Stock Class A and Class B Common [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 27, 2009	$ 607,243	$ 604,042	$ 14,915	$ 43,603	$ 1,018,590	$ (149,302)	$ (323,764)	$ 3,201
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	108,718	107,704	0	0	107,704	0	0	1,014
Other comprehensive loss	(63,373)	(63,307)	0	0	0	0	(63,307)	(66)
Issuance of shares
Retirement units - Class A shares	318	318	0	(109)	0	427	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan - Class A shares	3,833	3,833	72	3,761	0	0	0	0
Stock options - Class A shares	938	938	25	913	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to Class A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(1,352)	(1,352)	0	(6,180)	0	4,828	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	4,478	4,478	0	(5,106)	0	9,584	0	0
Stock-based compensation	7,119	7,119	0	7,119	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(3,846)	(3,846)	0	(3,846)	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 26, 2010	664,076	659,927	15,012	40,155	1,126,294	(134,463)	(387,071)	4,149
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	(40,224)	(39,669)	0	0	(39,669)	0	0	(555)
Other comprehensive loss	(129,772)	(129,327)	0	0	0	0	(129,327)	(445)
Issuance of shares
Employee stock purchase plan - Class A shares	4,318	4,318	60	4,258	0	0	0	0
Stock options - Class A shares	364	364	11	353	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to Class A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(1,285)	(1,285)	0	(6,250)	0	4,965	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	6,724	6,724	0	(11,800)	0	18,524	0	0
Stock-based compensation	9,410	9,410	0	9,410	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(4,102)	(4,102)	0	(4,102)	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 25, 2011	509,509	506,360	15,083	32,024	1,086,625	(110,974)	(516,398)	3,149
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)	133,339	133,173	0	0	133,173	0	0	166
Other comprehensive loss	(15,345)	(15,341)	0	0	0	0	(15,341)	(4)
Issuance of shares
Stock options - Class A shares	730	730	18	712	0	0	0	0
Stock conversions Class B shares to Class A shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Restricted stock units vested - Class A shares	(501)	(501)	8	(656)	0	147	0	0
401(k) Company stock match - Class A shares	3,764	3,764	0	(10,785)	0	14,549	0	0
Stock-based compensation	5,329	5,329	0	5,329	0	0	0	0
Tax shortfall from equity award exercises	(1,014)	(1,014)	0	(1,014)	0	0	0	0
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 30, 2012	$ 635,811	$ 632,500	$ 15,109	$ 25,610	$ 1,219,798	$ (96,278)	$ (531,739)	$ 3,311