Earnings/(Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 23, 2012	Jun. 24, 2012	Mar. 25, 2012	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations	$ 38,682	$ (5,239)	$ 17,356	$ 6,357	$ 118,041	$ (2,958)	$ 34,278	$ 14,413	$ 57,156	$ 163,774	$ 45,151
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	26,944	(18,987)	2,776	(2,785)	60,080	5,703	(121,900)	28,190	7,949	(27,927)	(82,799)
Net income/(loss) attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ 65,626	$ (24,226)	$ 20,132	$ 3,572	$ 178,121	$ 2,745	$ (87,622)	$ 42,603	$ 65,105	$ 135,847	$ (37,648)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	150,162,000	150,033,000	148,797,000	148,710,000	148,461,000	148,254,000	148,005,000	147,867,000	149,755,000	148,147,000	147,190,000
Incremental shares for assumed exercise of securities (in shares)									8,019,000	4,546,000	4,817,000
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	160,013,000	150,033,000	156,511,000	155,270,000	154,685,000	148,254,000	149,799,000	151,468,000	157,774,000	152,693,000	152,007,000
Earnings per share, basic
(Loss)/income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.03)	$ 0.12	$ 0.04	$ 0.80	$ (0.02)	$ 0.23	$ 0.10	$ 0.38	$ 1.11	$ 0.31
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (USD per share)	$ 0.18	$ (0.13)	$ 0.02	$ (0.02)	$ 0.40	$ 0.04	$ (0.82)	$ 0.19	$ 0.05	$ (0.19)	$ (0.57)
Net income/(loss) (USD per share)	$ 0.44	$ (0.16)	$ 0.14	$ 0.02	$ 1.20	$ 0.02	$ (0.59)	$ 0.29	$ 0.43	$ 0.92	$ (0.26)
Earnings per share, diluted
(Loss)/income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.03)	$ 0.11	$ 0.04	$ 0.76	$ (0.02)	$ 0.23	$ 0.10	$ 0.36	$ 1.07	$ 0.30
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (USD per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.13)	$ 0.02	$ (0.02)	$ 0.39	$ 0.04	$ (0.81)	$ 0.18	$ 0.05	$ (0.18)	$ (0.55)
Net income/(loss) (USD per share)	$ 0.41	$ (0.16)	$ 0.13	$ 0.02	$ 1.15	$ 0.02	$ (0.58)	$ 0.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.89	$ (0.25)
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									10,000,000	15,000,000	20,000,000