Supplemental Equity Information - Equity Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 995,041	$ 2,553,005
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 92,512	$ (192,429)	147,699	(128,530)
Other comprehensive income	1,252	12,599	7,026	13,847
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)	0	(1,017)	0	(2,832)
Comprehensive income (loss)	93,764	(180,847)	154,725	(117,515)
Dividends declared			(30,122)	(45,055)
Stock-based compensation			7,967	10,160
Treasury shares acquired			(5,831)	(8,453)
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	(3,724)		(3,724)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(1,145)	(7,622)
Spin-off of Cars.com				(1,510,342)
Ending Balance	1,116,911	874,178	1,116,911	874,178
TEGNA Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			995,041	2,271,418
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			147,699	(72,638)
Other comprehensive income			7,026	9,438
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)				0
Comprehensive income (loss)			154,725	(63,200)
Dividends declared			(30,122)	(45,055)
Stock-based compensation			7,967	10,160
Treasury shares acquired			(5,831)	(8,453)
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	(3,724)		(3,724)
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			(1,145)	(5,443)
Spin-off of Cars.com				(1,510,342)
Ending Balance	1,116,911	649,085	1,116,911	649,085
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			0	281,587
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)			0	(55,892)
Other comprehensive income			0	4,409
Redeemable noncontrolling interests (earnings not available to shareholders)				(2,832)
Comprehensive income (loss)			0	(54,315)
Dividends declared			0	0
Stock-based compensation			0	0
Treasury shares acquired			0	0
Impact from adoption of new revenue standard	0		0
Other activity, including shares withheld for employee taxes			0	(2,179)
Spin-off of Cars.com				0
Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 225,093	$ 0	$ 225,093