Pension Benefits - Net Periodic Pension Cost (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Pension Benefits
Pension Contributions	$ 2,100,000us-gaap_PensionContributions	$ 4,200,000us-gaap_PensionContributions
Estimated future employer contributions in 2015	8,600,000
Pension settlement charge	40,300,000
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal expense	4,697,000nyt_PensionWithdrawalExpense	0nyt_PensionWithdrawalExpense
Qualified Plans [Member]
Pension Benefits
Service cost	2,988,000	2,386,000
Interest cost	18,938,000	21,112,000
Expected return on plan assets	(28,775,000)	(28,460,000)
Amortization of actuarial loss	9,397,000	6,598,000
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost	(486,000)	(486,000)
Effect of settlement	40,329,000	0
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense/(income)	42,391,000	1,150,000
Non-Qualified Plans [Member]
Pension Benefits
Service cost	0	1,000
Interest cost	2,502,000	2,875,000
Expected return on plan assets	0	0
Amortization of actuarial loss	1,270,000	1,054,000
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost	0	0
Effect of settlement	0	0
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense/(income)	3,772,000	3,930,000
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Pension Benefits
Service cost	2,988,000	2,387,000
Interest cost	21,440,000	23,987,000
Expected return on plan assets	(28,775,000)	(28,460,000)
Amortization of actuarial loss	10,667,000	7,652,000
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost	(486,000)	(486,000)
Effect of settlement	40,329,000	0
Net periodic postretirement benefit expense/(income)	46,163,000	5,080,000
Lump-sum payments to be made from plan assets	98,300,000
Pension obligation reduction	$ (142,800,000)

The expense for the present value of future payments related to the withdrawal from multi-employer pension plan(s).

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of gains or losses recognized in net periodic benefit cost.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount of the prior service cost or credit recognized in net periodic benefit cost relating to benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation.

+ References

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- Definition

For pension plans, the amount of Increase or Decrease in the accumulated benefit obligation related to the effects of a settlement or curtailment.

+ References

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- Definition

An amount calculated as a basis for determining the extent of delayed recognition of the effects of changes in the fair value of assets. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the market-related value of plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512136

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Expected Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512171

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

+ References

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- Definition

The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments.

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- Definition

The amount of net gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit cost as a result of an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Plan Curtailment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6520938

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7577095&loc=d3e8001-114927

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- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525008

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan in the current remaining fiscal period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of decrease that relates to an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include (a) making lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and (b) purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7577095&loc=d3e8001-114927

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

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- Definition

The amount that relates to an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include (a) making lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and (b) purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Section 15

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7577095&loc=d3e8001-114927

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(8)

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- Definition

The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed by the entity to fund its pension plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

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