Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax		$ 35,953	$ 20,039	$ 8,662	$ (8,577)	$ 11,460	$ (27,604)	$ 6,855	$ (2,733)	$ 56,077	$ (12,022)	$ 59,922
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 632	$ (1,511)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	632	1,511	0
Less income allocated to RSUs										(908)	0	(817)
Numberator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company										$ 55,801	$ (10,511)	$ 59,105
Denominator
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		80,669	81,452	81,824	81,554	81,792	82,039	82,302	82,079	81,369	82,052	83,339
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units										558	0	300
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		81,348	82,084	81,852	81,554	81,792	82,039	82,465	82,079	81,927	82,052	83,639
Anti-dilutive securities	[1]									0	1,220	0

[1] Amount outstanding at balance sheet date, before application of the treasury stock method and not weighted for period outstanding.