Changes in Operations and Non-operating Items Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017	[1]	Jun. 30, 2017	[1]	Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments										$ 4,000
Loss on extinguishments and modification of debt		$ 0	[1]	$ 1,435		$ 0		$ 19,052	[1]	0	$ 20,487	[1]	$ 0
Write-downs of investments		(12,694)	[1]	$ 0		$ (58,800)		(122,000)	[1]	0	(193,494)	[1]	0
Workers Compensation Reserve Adjustment													5,000
CareerBuilder, LLC
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Pretax gain (loss) recognized on sale of equity method investment	$ (5,000)									(5,000)	4,000
Tribune Publishing
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Realized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, Cost Method Investments, and Other Investments								$ 5,000			5,000
Term B Loans Facility | Amended Secured Credit Facility
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts											(7,000)
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Write-off on Extinguishment											(2,000)
Term Loan Facility | Senior Secured Credit Agreement
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Payments of Debt Restructuring Costs											(12,000)
Employee Severance
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Line Items]
Severance Costs										6,757	4,739		10,406
Severance and Related Activity Liability		$ 4,576								$ 6,612	$ 4,576		$ 8,981

[1] See Note 3 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for information pertaining to non-operating items recorded in 2018 and 2017.