Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 553,401	$ 587,775	$ 608,256	$ 616,962	$ 618,929	$ 2,431,922	$ 2,830,187
Advertising	170,750	213,255	170,552	193,352	177,385	754,544	833,605
Circulation and Subscriber	215,230	213,183	212,145	216,606	214,523	856,457	857,290
Other	33,095	39,312	34,059	34,338	31,075	138,784	130,867
Total Operating Revenues	972,476	1,053,525	1,025,012	1,061,258	1,041,912	4,181,707	4,651,949
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	471,199	477,027	499,111	500,766	476,081	1,952,985	1,911,564
Selling, general and administrative	417,370	400,842	391,269	409,173	441,366	1,642,650	1,877,455
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	62,501	63,211	61,840	62,882	62,196	250,129	243,572
Amortization of intangible assets	3,937	6,397	8,187	6,338	5,716	26,638	24,615
Impairment of goodwill		0	11,923	0	0	11,923
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets							27,477
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	955,007	947,477	972,330	979,159	985,359	3,884,325	4,084,683
Income from Operations	17,469	106,048	52,682	82,099	56,553	297,382	567,266
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	3,888	568	(1,494)	3,138	3,737	5,949	(4,133)
Interest income	1,069	1,174	994	997	982	4,147	2,576
Interest expense	(9,163)	(8,638)	(8,667)	(7,960)	(7,961)	(33,226)	(30,503)
Other income (expense), net	8,588	1,073	(29,650)	(2,591)	(24,032)	(55,200)	7,515
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	21,851	100,225	13,865	75,683	29,279	219,052	542,721
Provision for Income Taxes	10,500	41,000	16,800	27,900	10,900	96,600	219,500
Income from Continuing Operations	11,351	59,225	(2,935)	47,783	18,379	122,452	323,221
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	20,217	2,506	(3,031)	(2,020)	(2,750)	(5,295)	(45,201)
Net Income	31,568	61,731	(5,966)	45,763	15,629	117,157	278,020
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(70)	(17)	(16)	40	(14)	(7)	94
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company	31,498	61,714	(5,982)	45,803	15,615	117,150	278,114
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(451)	0	(226)	(230)	(461)	(917)	(922)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	31,047	61,714	(6,208)	45,573	15,154	116,233	277,192
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	10,830	59,208	(3,177)	47,593	17,904	121,528	322,393
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	20,217	2,506	(3,031)	(2,020)	(2,750)	(5,295)	(45,201)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	$ 31,047	$ 61,714	$ (6,208)	$ 45,573	$ 15,154	$ 116,233	$ 277,192
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.37	$ 7.70	$ (0.43)	$ 6.00	$ 2.21	$ 15.37	$ 36.12
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ 2.70	$ 0.33	$ (0.39)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.67)	$ (5.06)
Basic net income per common share	$ 4.07	$ 8.03	$ (0.82)	$ 5.74	$ 1.87	$ 14.70	$ 31.06
Basic average number of common shares outstanding	7,514				8,046
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.37	$ 7.70	$ (0.43)	$ 6.00	$ 2.21	$ 15.37	$ 36.10
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ 2.70	$ 0.33	$ (0.39)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.67)	$ (5.06)
Diluted net income per common share	$ 4.07	$ 8.03	$ (0.82)	$ 5.74	$ 1.87	$ 14.70	$ 31.04
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding	7,615				8,119