Stockholders' Equity - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 706,355	$ 654,176	$ 616,342
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,042,641	897,363	844,244
Income tax (benefit)/expense	8,179	(198)	41,545
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	22,748	(560)	57,901
Ending balance	1,173,863	1,042,641	897,363
Total New York Times Company Stockholders' Equity
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,040,781	897,279	847,815
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax	11,230
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	19,697
Income tax (benefit)/expense	8,179
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	22,748	(560)	56,787
Ending balance	1,172,003	1,040,781	897,279
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	4,677
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax	(1,684)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(445)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	(1,239)
Ending balance	3,438	4,677
AOCI Attributable to Parent
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(517,724)	(423,029)	(479,816)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	22,748	(560)	56,787
Ending balance	(494,976)	(517,724)	$ (423,029)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(520,308)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax	9,290
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	19,697
Income tax (benefit)/expense	7,665
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	21,322
Ending balance	(498,986)	(520,308)
AOCI, Accumulated Gain (Loss), Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Including Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,093)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, before tax	3,624
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0
Income tax (benefit)/expense	959
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	2,665
Ending balance	572	$ (2,093)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Prior Service Attributable to Parent
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	6,698
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net Gain (Loss) Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ (26,395)