Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 526,174	$ 527,815
Subscriber	191,128	186,790
Advertising	78,247	69,122
Other	45,012	36,865
Total Operating Revenues	840,561	820,592
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	379,069	376,545
Selling, general and administrative	325,637	334,224
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	53,245	58,959
Amortization of intangible assets	3,081	3,717
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	761,032	773,445
Income from Operations	79,529	47,147
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	4,052	3,418
Interest income	599	510
Interest expense	(8,820)	(8,960)
Other income (expense), net	133,273	(4,083)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	208,633	38,032
Provision for Income Taxes	77,400	15,800
Income from Continuing Operations	131,233	22,232
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	1,072	(16,973)
Net Income	132,305	5,259
Net Loss (Income) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	219	(97)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company	132,524	5,162
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(426)	(444)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	132,098	4,718
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	131,026	21,691
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,072	(16,973)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 132,098	$ 4,718
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 17.71	$ 2.92
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 0.14	$ (2.28)
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 17.85	$ 0.64
Basic average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,275	7,227
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 17.65	$ 2.92
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 0.14	$ (2.28)
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 17.79	$ 0.64
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,352	7,266
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding	7,301	7,228