Summary of Quarterly Operating Results and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 04, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Severance and restructuring costs, after tax					$ (19.3)		$ (2.0)	$ (2.9)		$ 24.2
Severance and restructuring costs, per share					$ (2.31)		$ (0.22)	$ 0.31
Impairment charges at one of the Company's affiliates, after tax		(5.7)							(5.7)
Impairment charges at one of the Compan'ys affiliates, per share		$ (0.72)
Net loss on write-down of marketable equity securities, after tax		(14.9)		(19.8)					(34.6)
Net loss on write-down of marketable equity securities, per share		$ (1.89)		$ (2.44)
Non-operating unrealized foreign currency gain/loss, after tax	0.3	(4.2)	0.2	1.7	1.2	7.5	(2.3)	(2.2)	(2.1)	4.2
Non-operating unrealized foreign currency gain/loss, per share	$ 0.03	$ (0.54)	$ 0.03	$ 0.21	$ 0.14	$ 0.84	$ (0.25)	$ (0.23)
Education Division [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Severance and restructuring costs, after tax	(6.0)	(3.5)	(7.3)	(1.4)					(18.1)
Severance and restructuring costs, per share	$ (0.77)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.91)	$ (0.18)
Washington Post Newspaper [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, after tax						(1.6)	(11.0)			(12.7)
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, per share						$ (0.18)	$ (1.19)
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, after tax	(1.5)								(1.5)
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge, per share	$ (0.19)
Online Lead Generation Business [Member]
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Line Items]
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, after tax		$ (11.9)				$ (26.3)			$ (11.9)	$ (26.3)
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, per share						$ (2.96)