Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounts Receivable Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Text Block]

5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Accounts receivable at December 31, 2011 and January 2, 2011 consist of the following:

(in thousands)		2011		2010
Trade accounts receivable, less estimated returns, doubtful accounts and allowances
	of $50,225 and $70,181	$	375,577	$	379,480
Other accounts receivable			17,148		17,544
		$	392,725	$	397,024

The changes in allowance for doubtful accounts and returns and allowance for advertising rate adjustments and discounts during 2011, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

				Additions –				Balance
		Balance at		Charged to				at
		Beginning		Costs and				End of
(in thousands)		of Period		Expenses		Deductions		Period
Year Ended December 31, 2011
Allowance for doubtful accounts and returns		$	67,007	$	61,327	$	(80,135)	$	48,199
Allowance for advertising rate adjustments and
	discounts		3,174		11,868		(13,016)		2,026
		$	70,181	$	73,195	$	(93,151)	$	50,225
Year Ended January 2, 2011
Allowance for doubtful accounts and returns		$	98,286	$	137,888	$	(169,167)	$	67,007
Allowance for advertising rate adjustments and discounts			8,495		12,216		(17,537)		3,174
		$	106,781	$	150,104	$	(186,704)	$	70,181
Year Ended January 3, 2010
Allowance for doubtful accounts and returns		$	95,425	$	168,455	$	(165,594)	$	98,286
Allowance for advertising rate adjustments and discounts			9,228		24,208		(24,941)		8,495
		$	104,653	$	192,663	$	(190,535)	$	106,781

The reduced activity for 2011 and 2010 in the table above is largely due to the sale of Newsweek on September 30, 2010.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities at December 31, 2011 and January 2, 2011 consist of the following:

(in thousands)	2011		2010
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	333,282	$	430,119
Accrued compensation and related benefits		161,759		196,069
	$	495,041	$	626,188

Cash overdrafts of $2.1 million and $26.2 million are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities at December 31, 2011 and January 2, 2011, respectively.