Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Undistributed net income (loss):
Net income (loss) attributable to Journal Media Group	$ 3,834	$ (488)	$ 3,323	$ (3,542)	$ (2,318)	$ (9,053)	$ (10,456)	$ (3,939)	$ 3,127	$ (25,766)	$ (16,703)
Less dividends paid:
Common stock									3,907
Unvested restricted share units									90
Common stock									(870)
Unvested restricted share units									0
Total undistributed net income (loss)									$ (870)
Basic earnings per share:
Distributed earnings per share, basic (in USD per share)									$ 0.16
Undistributed earnings per share, basic (in USD per share)									(0.04)
Earnings per share, basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.02)	$ 0.13	$ (0.14)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.63)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.27)	0.12	$ (1.78)	$ (1.16)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Distributed earnings per share, diluted (in USD per share)									0.16
Undistributed earnings per share, diluted (in USD per share)									(0.04)
Earnings per share, diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.02)	$ 0.13	$ (0.14)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.63)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.27)	$ 0.12	$ (1.78)	$ (1.16)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic									21,949	14,450	14,450
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted									21,949	14,450	14,450