Earnings/(Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 23, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Earnings per share
(Loss)/income from continuing operations	$ (3,744)	$ 6,611	$ 42,535	$ 826
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	6,026	9,074	(86,272)	(99,440)
Net income/(loss) attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders	$ 2,282	$ 15,685	$ (43,737)	$ (98,614)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
Average number of common shares outstanding - basic	148,254	147,355	148,042	147,103
Incremental shares for assumed exercise of securities	0	3,938	3,720	5,321
Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	148,254	151,293	151,762	152,424
(Loss)/earnings per share, basic
(Loss)/income from continuing operations, per basic share	$ (0.02)	$ 0.05	$ 0.29	$ 0.01
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per basic share	$ 0.04	$ 0.06	$ (0.59)	$ (0.68)
Income/(loss) per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Basic	$ 0.02	$ 0.11	$ (0.30)	$ (0.67)
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
(Loss)/income from continuing operations, per diluted share	$ (0.02)	$ 0.04	$ 0.28	$ 0.01
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes, per diluted share	$ 0.04	$ 0.06	$ (0.57)	$ (0.66)
Income/(loss) per share attributable to The New York Times Company common stockholders–Diluted	$ 0.02	$ 0.10	$ (0.29)	$ (0.65)
Stock Options [Member]
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	18,000	20,000	16,000	20,000
Warrants [Member]
(Loss)/earnings per share, diluted
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	15,900