Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenue:
Advertising and marketing services	$ 258,827	$ 228,036	$ 245,334
Subscriptions	150,388	121,565	117,463
Other	31,791	20,731	21,402
Total revenue	441,006	370,332	384,199
Operating costs and expenses:
Costs of sales (exclusive of items shown below)	231,874	204,915	213,488
Selling, general and administrative (exclusive of items shown below)	176,783	165,842	167,803
Defined pension and benefit plan expense	1,896	6,773	4,274
Depreciation and amortization	21,134	16,890	17,240
Total operating costs and expenses	431,687	394,420	402,805
Operating income (loss)	9,319	(24,088)	(18,606)
Other expense, net	(569)	(1,469)	(293)
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,750	(25,557)	(18,899)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	5,721	413	(2,070)
Net income (loss)	3,029	(25,970)	(16,829)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(98)	(204)	(126)
Net income (loss) attributable to Journal Media Group	$ 3,127	$ (25,766)	$ (16,703)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings per share, basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.12	$ (1.78)	$ (1.16)
Earnings per share, diluted (in USD per share)	0.12	(1.78)	(1.16)
Dividends declared, per share (in USD per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0	$ 0