Quarterly Review (Details) - Quarterly Review (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
2013
Operating income	$ 33,827		$ 55,493		$ 21,304
Net income (loss)	4,354		35,963		103,924
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	6,140		35,921		103,924
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.11		$ 0.82		$ 1.91
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.10		$ 0.53		$ 1.14
First Quarter [Member]
2013
Operating revenues	50,045	[1]	43,744	[1]
Operating income	7,062	[1]	4,917	[1]
Net income (loss)	3,019	[1]	1,834	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	3,114	[1]	1,834	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.05	[1]	$ 0.02	[1]
Second Quarter [Member]
2013
Operating revenues	55,782	[1]	54,997	[1]
Operating income	8,185	[1]	14,079	[1]
Net income (loss)	3,447	[1]	6,839	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	3,706	[1]	6,839	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.08	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.06	[1]	$ 0.11	[1]
Third Quarter [Member]
2013
Operating revenues	54,097	[1]	58,003	[1]
Operating income	8,923	[1]	14,432	[1]
Net income (loss)	4,137	[1]	8,154	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	4,477	[1]	8,154	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.09	[1]	$ 0.20	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.13	[1]
Fourth Quarter [Member]
2013
Operating revenues	109,988	[1]	71,439	[1]
Operating income	9,657	[1]	22,065	[1]
Net income (loss)	(6,249)	[1]	19,136	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Media General	$ (5,157)	[1]	$ 19,094	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]

[1] On November 12, 2013, Legacy Media General and Young were combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger transaction. The merger was accounted for as a reverse acquisition. For financial reporting purposes only, Young is the acquirer and the continuing reporting entity, but has been renamed Media General, Inc. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements of Media General, Inc., the legal acquirer and the continuing public corporation in the transaction, include the operating results for only Young for periods prior to November 12, 2013.