Contingent Liabilities	6 Months Ended
Jun. 26, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingent Liabilities	CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Restricted Cash We were required to maintain $28.2 million of restricted cash as of June 26, 2016 and $28.7 million as of December 27, 2015, the majority of which is set aside to collateralize workers’ compensation obligations. Newspaper and Mail Deliverers–Publishers’ Pension Fund In September 2013, the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers-Publishers’ Pension Fund (the “NMDU Fund”) assessed a partial withdrawal liability against the Company in the amount of approximately $26 million for the plan years ending May 31, 2012 and 2013 (the “Initial Assessment”), an amount that was increased to approximately $34 million in December 2014, when the NMDU Fund issued a revised partial withdrawal liability assessment for the plan year ending May 31, 2013 (the “Revised Assessment”). The NMDU Fund claimed that when City & Suburban Delivery Systems, Inc., a retail and newsstand distribution subsidiary of the Company and the largest contributor to the NMDU Fund, ceased operations in 2009, it triggered a decline of more than 70% in contribution base units in each of these two plan years. The Company disagreed with both the NMDU Fund’s determination that a partial withdrawal occurred and the methodology by which it calculated the withdrawal liability, and the parties engaged in arbitration proceedings to resolve the matter. On June 14, 2016, the arbitrator issued an interim award and opinion that supported the NMDU Fund’s determination that a partial withdrawal had occurred in each of the two plan years. The arbitrator agreed with the methodology by which the NMDU Fund calculated the Initial Assessment, but concluded that the NMDU Fund’s calculation of the Revised Assessment was overstated by $7.5 million. The Company expects to appeal the arbitrator’s decision following the issuance of the final award and opinion. As a result of the interim decision, the Company established a liability of $11.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. Management believes it is reasonably possible that the total loss in this matter could exceed the liability established by a range of zero to approximately $10 million. As required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Company has been making the quarterly payments to the NMDU Fund set forth in the demand letters. As of June 26, 2016, we have paid $15.1 million since the receipt of the initial demand letter (of which $9.9 million related to the Initial Assessment and $5.2 million related to the Revised Assessment), including $3.5 million in 2016. Subsequent to that date, the NMDU Fund returned $5.0 million principal and interest to the Company in recognition of the arbitrator’s finding that the Revised Assessment was overstated. The $5.0 million reimbursement will be recorded in the third quarter of 2016 as that is when the gain associated with the Revised Assessment was realized. The Company will continue to make required payments during the pendency of the appeal. Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corporation The Company is involved in class action litigation brought on behalf of individuals who, from 2006 to 2011, delivered newspapers at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corporation (“Worcester”), a subsidiary of the Company. The plaintiffs are asserting several claims against Worcester, including a challenge to their classification as independent contractors, and seek unspecified damages. In April 2016, the parties engaged in an unsuccessful mediation process to resolve the litigation. The Company believes that the claims made by the plaintiffs are without merit and continues to vigorously defend its position. The Company is unable to estimate a loss or range of possible losses at this time. Other We are involved in various legal actions incidental to our business that are now pending against us. These actions are generally for amounts greatly in excess of the payments, if any, that may be required to be made. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome in one or more matters could be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for an individual reporting period. However, based on currently available information, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, is likely to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Restricted Cash

We were required to maintain $28.2 million of restricted cash as of June 26, 2016 and $28.7 million as of December 27, 2015, the majority of which is set aside to collateralize workers’ compensation obligations.

Newspaper and Mail Deliverers–Publishers’ Pension Fund

In September 2013, the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers-Publishers’ Pension Fund (the “NMDU Fund”) assessed a partial withdrawal liability against the Company in the amount of approximately $26 million for the plan years ending May 31, 2012 and 2013 (the “Initial Assessment”), an amount that was increased to approximately $34 million in December 2014, when the NMDU Fund issued a revised partial withdrawal liability assessment for the plan year ending May 31, 2013 (the “Revised Assessment”). The NMDU Fund claimed that when City & Suburban Delivery Systems, Inc., a retail and newsstand distribution subsidiary of the Company and the largest contributor to the NMDU Fund, ceased operations in 2009, it triggered a decline of more than 70% in contribution base units in each of these two plan years. The Company disagreed with both the NMDU Fund’s determination that a partial withdrawal occurred and the methodology by which it calculated the withdrawal liability, and the parties engaged in arbitration proceedings to resolve the matter.

On June 14, 2016, the arbitrator issued an interim award and opinion that supported the NMDU Fund’s determination that a partial withdrawal had occurred in each of the two plan years. The arbitrator agreed with the methodology by which the NMDU Fund calculated the Initial Assessment, but concluded that the NMDU Fund’s calculation of the Revised Assessment was overstated by $7.5 million.

The Company expects to appeal the arbitrator’s decision following the issuance of the final award and opinion. As a result of the interim decision, the Company established a liability of $11.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. Management believes it is reasonably possible that the total loss in this matter could exceed the liability established by a range of zero to approximately $10 million.

As required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Company has been making the quarterly payments to the NMDU Fund set forth in the demand letters. As of June 26, 2016, we have paid $15.1 million since the receipt of the initial demand letter (of which $9.9 million related to the Initial Assessment and $5.2 million related to the Revised Assessment), including $3.5 million in 2016. Subsequent to that date, the NMDU Fund returned $5.0 million principal and interest to the Company in recognition of the arbitrator’s finding that the Revised Assessment was overstated. The $5.0 million reimbursement will be recorded in the third quarter of 2016 as that is when the gain associated with the Revised Assessment was realized. The Company will continue to make required payments during the pendency of the appeal.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corporation

The Company is involved in class action litigation brought on behalf of individuals who, from 2006 to 2011, delivered newspapers at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corporation (“Worcester”), a subsidiary of the Company. The plaintiffs are asserting several claims against Worcester, including a challenge to their classification as independent contractors, and seek unspecified damages. In April 2016, the parties engaged in an unsuccessful mediation process to resolve the litigation. The Company believes that the claims made by the plaintiffs are without merit and continues to vigorously defend its position. The Company is unable to estimate a loss or range of possible losses at this time.

Other

We are involved in various legal actions incidental to our business that are now pending against us. These actions are generally for amounts greatly in excess of the payments, if any, that may be required to be made. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome in one or more matters could be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for an individual reporting period. However, based on currently available information, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, is likely to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.