Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating Revenues	$ 1,521,392	$ 1,460,004	$ 2,994,157	$ 2,864,070
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales and operating expenses, exclusive of depreciation	710,865	775,627	1,411,504	1,543,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation	439,094	353,779	886,338	708,992
Depreciation	49,697	44,850	99,180	89,614
Amortization of intangible assets	32,575	14,471	64,662	32,214
Facility consolidation and asset impairment charges	20,795	28,775	33,179	43,595
Total	1,253,026	1,217,502	2,494,863	2,417,574
Operating income	268,366	242,502	499,294	446,496
Non-operating (expense) income:
Equity income in unconsolidated investees, net	2,638	156,540	7,696	165,031
Interest expense	(69,341)	(64,148)	(140,100)	(133,796)
Other non-operating items	(3,842)	(2,982)	18,938	(23,730)
Total	(70,545)	89,410	(113,466)	7,505
Income before income taxes	197,821	331,912	385,828	454,001
Provision for income taxes	66,331	106,000	126,854	158,500
Net income	131,490	225,912	258,974	295,501
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15,623)	(17,445)	(30,213)	(27,875)
Net income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 115,867	$ 208,467	$ 228,761	$ 267,626
Net income per share – basic (In dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.92	$ 1.01	$ 1.18
Net income per share – diluted (In dollars per share)	0.50	0.90	0.99	1.15
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.40	$ 0.40