Summarized Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, 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
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Impairment charge						$ 29,400
Impairment of intangible assets						6,300
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
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
Costs and expenses	(281,628)	(247,304)	(245,610)	(238,682)	(228,938)	(189,184)	(184,095)	(184,414)	(1,013,224)	(786,631)	(690,562)
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets	(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	45,891	27,247	11,645	(10,608)	10,953	(46,380)	11,739	(8,388)	74,175	(32,076)	93,188
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	9,938	7,208	2,983	(2,031)	(507)	(18,776)	4,884	(5,655)	18,098	(20,054)	33,266
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
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(13,974)	(908)	(2,942)	(18,504)	(5,999)	920	1,690	794	(36,328)	(2,595)	7,313
Net income (loss)	21,979	19,131	5,720	(27,081)	5,461	(26,684)	8,545	(1,939)	19,749	(14,617)	67,235
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	(632)	1,511	0	0	0	(632)	(1,511)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company	$ 21,979	$ 19,131	$ 5,720	$ (26,449)	$ 6,972	$ (26,684)	$ 8,545	$ (1,939)	$ 20,381	$ (13,106)	$ 67,235
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share	$ 0.44	$ 0.24	$ 0.10	$ (0.10)	$ 0.16	$ (0.34)	$ 0.08	$ (0.03)	$ 0.69	$ (0.13)	$ 0.71
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per basic share	(0.17)	(0.01)	(0.04)	(0.23)	(0.07)	0.01	0.02	0.01	(0.44)	(0.03)	0.09
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share	0.44	0.24	0.10	(0.10)	0.16	(0.34)	0.08	(0.03)	0.68	(0.13)	0.71
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, per diluted share	$ (0.17)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.07)	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ (0.44)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.09
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
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
Cash dividends per share of common stock (USD per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.00	$ 0	$ 0.20	$ 0	$ 0