Supplemental Equity Information - Equity Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 2,553,005	$ 2,456,744
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 39,951	$ 133,435	(88,579)	343,756
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)	36	(1,353)	(2,797)	(3,628)
Other comprehensive (loss)	26,213	(4,641)	40,060	(12,234)
Comprehensive income (loss)	66,200	127,441	(51,316)	327,894
Dividends declared			(60,121)	(90,755)
Stock-based compensation			14,189	13,216
Treasury shares acquired			(8,453)	(150,917)
Spin-off transaction			(1,510,851)	(39,456)
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder			(225,911)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(4,667)	(20,568)
Ending Balance	705,875	2,496,158	705,875	2,496,158
TEGNA Inc. Shareholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			2,271,418	2,191,971
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			(29,881)	303,578
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)			0	0
Other comprehensive (loss)			34,241	(8,497)
Comprehensive income (loss)			4,360	295,081
Dividends declared			(60,121)	(90,755)
Stock-based compensation			14,189	13,216
Treasury shares acquired			(8,453)	(150,917)
Spin-off transaction			(1,510,851)	(39,456)
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder			0
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(4,667)	(17,645)
Ending Balance	705,875	2,201,495	705,875	2,201,495
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			281,587	264,773
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			(58,698)	40,178
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)			(2,797)	(3,628)
Other comprehensive (loss)			5,819	(3,737)
Comprehensive income (loss)			(55,676)	32,813
Dividends declared			0	0
Stock-based compensation			0	0
Treasury shares acquired			0	0
Spin-off transaction			0	0
Deconsolidation of CareerBuilder			(225,911)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			0	(2,923)
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 294,663	$ 0	$ 294,663