Supplemental Equity Information - Equity Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 995,041	$ 2,553,005
Comprehensive income:
Net income	55,187	63,899
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)	0	(1,815)
Other comprehensive income	5,775	1,247
Comprehensive income	60,962	63,331
Dividends declared	(15,095)	(30,065)
Stock-based compensation	3,599	5,103
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard			$ (3,724)
Treasury shares acquired		(7,252)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes	(4,147)	(9,300)
Ending Balance	1,036,636	2,574,822
TEGNA Inc. Shareholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	995,041	2,271,418
Comprehensive income:
Net income	55,187	57,714
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)		0
Other comprehensive income	5,775	182
Comprehensive income	60,962	57,896
Dividends declared	(15,095)	(30,065)
Stock-based compensation	3,599	5,103
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard			(3,724)
Treasury shares acquired		(7,252)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes	(4,147)	(7,963)
Ending Balance	1,036,636	2,289,137
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	281,587
Comprehensive income:
Net income	0	6,185
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)		(1,815)
Other comprehensive income	0	1,065
Comprehensive income	0	5,435
Dividends declared	0	0
Stock-based compensation	0	0
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard			$ 0
Treasury shares acquired		0
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes	0	(1,337)
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 285,685