Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 25, 2012
Amounts attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$ 3,138	$ 8,739
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	33,391
Net income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ 3,138	$ 42,130
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
Average number of common shares outstanding-Basic	148,710,000	147,867,000
Incremental shares for assumed exercise of securities	6,560,000	3,601,000
Average number of common shares outstanding-Diluted	155,270,000	151,468,000
Basic earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.02	$ 0.06
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 0.00	$ 0.22
Net income–Basic	$ 0.02	$ 0.28
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.02	$ 0.06
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ 0.00	$ 0.22
Net income–Diluted	$ 0.02	$ 0.28
Stock Options [Member]
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	11,000,000	16,000,000