Segment Information - Schedule of Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 368,113	$ 302,726	$ 283,395	$ 254,191	$ 261,746	$ 200,509	$ 216,242	$ 198,475	$ 1,208,425	$ 876,972	$ 874,451
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									129,959	(1,903)	128,205
Acquisition and related integration costs									(4,124)	0	(578)
Restructuring costs									(8,911)	(4,422)	0
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles	(17,587)	(15,598)	(15,382)	(15,420)	(14,926)	(13,775)	(13,781)	(13,861)	(63,987)	(56,343)	(55,204)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets					0	(35,732)	0	0	0	(35,732)	0
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment	(1,105)	501	66	(717)	7	(114)	(15)	(47)	(1,255)	(169)	(480)
Interest expense	(9,143)	(9,003)	(9,279)	(8,759)	(8,534)	(5,720)	(8,248)	(4,195)	(36,184)	(26,697)	(18,039)
Defined benefit pension plan expense	(13,446)	(3,529)	(1,389)	(1,388)	(3,627)	(3,551)	(3,467)	(3,467)	(19,752)	(14,112)	(14,332)
Miscellaneous, net	687	$ (546)	$ (156)	$ 167	5,225	$ 1,187	$ 5,103	$ (879)	152	10,636	(2,646)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items, noncontrolling interest									74,175	(32,076)	93,188
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									34,641	34,049	32,474
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									29,346	22,294	22,730
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									53,660	18,105	22,525
Assets
Total assets	2,130,061				2,129,548				2,130,061	2,129,548	1,735,906
Continuing Operations
Assets
Total assets	2,130,061				1,993,544				2,130,061	1,993,544	1,589,865
Discontinued Operations
Assets
Total assets	0				136,004				0	136,004	146,041
Local Media
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									917,480	778,376	835,290
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									251,119	156,890	243,298
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									30,467	31,870	30,184
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									14,821	15,084	16,958
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									37,773	16,946	21,064
Assets
Total assets	1,261,526				1,273,735				1,261,526	1,273,735	1,280,885
National Media
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									286,170	93,141	34,424
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									13,920	(9,260)	(10,156)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									2,592	88	164
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									13,172	5,856	4,419
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									15,164	792	54
Assets
Total assets	737,987				528,479				737,987	528,479	117,725
Other
Segment operating revenues:
Total operating revenues									4,775	5,455	4,737
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									(3,680)	(2,361)	(2,513)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									150	208	263
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									0	0	124
Assets
Total assets	865				2,128				865	2,128	7,146
Shared services and corporate
Segment profit (loss):
Segment profit (loss)									(53,123)	(50,506)	(46,162)
Depreciation:
Total depreciation									1,432	1,883	1,863
Amortization of intangibles:
Total amortization of intangible assets									1,353	1,354	1,353
Additions to property and equipment:
Total additions to property and equipment									723	367	1,283
Assets
Total assets	$ 129,683				$ 189,202				$ 129,683	$ 189,202	$ 184,109