Stockholders' Equity Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 24, 2017	Jun. 25, 2017	Mar. 26, 2017	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 25, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 897,363				$ 844,244	$ 897,363	$ 844,244	$ 828,455
Income tax (benefit)/expense									(198)	41,545	19,096
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									(560)	57,901	29,239
Ending balance	$ 1,042,641				$ 897,363				1,042,641	897,363	844,244
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					2,572					2,572
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	80,265	$ 35,066	$ 33,595	27,165	5,187	$ 59,910	$ 22,270	23,857	176,091	111,224	30,526
Income tax expense	23,289	10,092	9,999	5,251	63,083	23,420	6,711	10,742	48,631	103,956	4,421
Net income	56,976	$ 24,974	$ 23,596	21,914	(57,839)	$ 36,002	$ 15,559	13,115	127,460	6,837	23,832
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				6,328					6,328
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax									(4,368)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax									0
Income tax (benefit)/expense									(1,141)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									(3,227)
Ending balance	4,677				6,328				4,677	6,328
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					1,576					1,576
Funded Status of Benefit Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(427,819)					(427,819)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax									(25,060)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax									28,970
Income tax (benefit)/expense									1,021
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									2,889
Ending balance	(520,308)				(427,819)				(520,308)	(427,819)
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					(95,378)					(95,378)
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(1,538)					(1,538)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax									(300)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax									0
Income tax (benefit)/expense									(78)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									(222)
Ending balance	(2,093)				(1,538)				(2,093)	(1,538)
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					(333)					(333)
Total New York Times Company Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				897,279				847,815	897,279	847,815	826,751
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax									(29,728)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax									28,970
Income tax (benefit)/expense									(198)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									(560)	56,787	29,278
Ending balance	1,040,781				897,279				1,040,781	897,279	847,815
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					2,572					2,572
Net income									125,684	4,296	29,068
AOCI Attributable to Parent
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ (423,029)				$ (479,816)	(423,029)	(479,816)	(509,094)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax									(560)	56,787	29,278
Ending balance	$ (517,724)				(423,029)				(517,724)	(423,029)	$ (479,816)
Impact of adopting new accounting guidance					$ (94,135)					$ (94,135)
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Tax Effect									94,100
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Prior Service Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									8,102
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Gain (Loss) Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									(36,651)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Pension Settlement Charge Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold									(421)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest									(28,970)
Income tax expense									(7,661)
Net income									$ (21,309)