Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 29, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 131,490	$ 225,912	$ 258,974	$ 295,501
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (income not available to shareholders)	(52)	(1,395)	(1,285)	(1,850)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	32,703	12,809	394	17,462
Pension and other post-retirement benefit items:
Amortization of prior service credit, net	(618)	(1,215)	(1,236)	(1,700)
Amortization of actuarial loss	15,713	11,798	31,408	23,233
Remeasurement of post-retirement benefits liability	0	0	0	33,907
Other	(22,936)	(9,297)	(4,397)	(15,413)
Pension and other post-retirement benefit items	(7,841)	1,286	25,775	40,027
Other	0	819	0	1,061
Other comprehensive income, before tax	24,862	14,914	26,169	58,550
Income tax effect related to components of other comprehensive income	(847)	(5,441)	(9,988)	(21,976)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	24,015	9,473	16,181	36,574
Comprehensive income	155,453	233,990	273,870	330,225
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(18,932)	(16,869)	(26,723)	(27,086)
Comprehensive income attributable to TEGNA Inc.	$ 136,521	$ 217,121	$ 247,147	$ 303,139