Quarterly Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2014		Sep. 28, 2014		Jun. 29, 2014		Mar. 30, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013		Sep. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 28, 2014		Dec. 29, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 444,683		$ 364,718		$ 388,719		$ 390,408		$ 443,860		$ 361,738		$ 390,957		$ 380,675		$ 1,588,528		$ 1,577,230		$ 1,595,341
Operating costs	382,259		373,750		362,697		365,799		371,755		342,712		344,733		352,544		1,484,505		1,411,744		1,441,410
Early termination charge	0		0		0		2,550										2,550		0		0
Pension settlement charge	0	[1]	0	[1]	9,525	[1]	0	[1]	3,228	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	9,525	[1]	3,228	[1]	47,657
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal expense									0	[2]	6,171	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0		6,171	[2]	0
Operating profit	62,424		(9,032)		16,497		22,059		68,877		12,855		46,224		28,131		91,948		156,087		103,654
(Loss)/income from joint ventures	(7,845)		1,599		25		(2,147)		183		(123)		(405)		(2,870)		(8,368)		(3,215)		2,936
Interest expense, net	11,970		15,254		13,205		13,301		13,904		15,454		14,644		14,071		53,730		58,073		62,808
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	42,609		(22,687)		3,317		6,611		55,156		(2,722)		31,175		11,190		29,850		94,799		258,557
Income tax expense	8,685		(10,247)		(5,743)		3,764		16,419		2,578		13,813		5,082		(3,541)		37,892		94,617
Income from continuing operations	33,924		(12,440)		9,060		2,847		38,737		(5,300)		17,362		6,108		33,391		56,907		163,940
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes									26,944		(18,987)		2,776		(2,785)		(1,086)		7,949		(27,927)
Net income	33,832		(12,440)		9,060		1,853		65,681		(24,287)		20,138		3,323		32,305		64,856		136,013
Net loss/(income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	1,043		(59)		128		(110)		(55)		61		(6)		249		1,002		249		(166)
Net income attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	34,875		(12,499)		9,188		1,743		65,626		(24,226)		20,132		3,572		33,307		65,105		135,847
Income from continuing operations	34,967		(12,499)		9,188		2,737		38,682		(5,239)		17,356		6,357		34,393		57,156		163,774
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ (92)		$ 0		$ 0		$ (994)		$ 26,944		$ (18,987)		$ 2,776		$ (2,785)		$ (1,086)		$ 7,949		$ (27,927)
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	150,779		150,822		150,796		150,612		150,162		150,033		148,797		148,710		150,673		149,755		148,147
Diluted (in shares)	160,455		150,822		161,868		161,920		160,013		150,033		156,511		155,270		161,323		157,774		152,693
Basic earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
(Loss)/income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.23		$ (0.08)		$ 0.06		$ 0.02		$ 0.26		$ (0.03)		$ 0.12		$ 0.04		$ 0.23		$ 0.38		$ 1.11
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (USD per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.18		$ (0.13)		$ 0.02		$ (0.02)		$ (0.01)		$ 0.05		$ (0.19)
Net income/(loss) (USD per share)	$ 0.23		$ (0.08)		$ 0.06		$ 0.01		$ 0.44		$ (0.16)		$ 0.14		$ 0.02		$ 0.22		$ 0.43		$ 0.92
Diluted earnings per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders:
(Loss)/income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.22		$ (0.08)		$ 0.06		$ 0.02		$ 0.24		$ (0.03)		$ 0.11		$ 0.04		$ 0.21		$ 0.36		$ 1.07
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (USD per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.17		$ (0.13)		$ 0.02		$ (0.02)		$ (0.01)		$ 0.05		$ (0.18)
Net income/(loss) (USD per share)	$ 0.22		$ (0.08)		$ 0.06		$ 0.01		$ 0.41		$ (0.16)		$ 0.13		$ 0.02		$ 0.20		$ 0.41		$ 0.89

[1] We recorded a settlement charge related to a lump-sum payment offer to certain former employees who participated in a non-qualified pension plan.

[2] We recorded an estimated charge related to a partial withdrawal obligation under a multiemployer pension plan.