Pension and Other Retirement Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2010	Nov. 03, 2009	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) pension_plan	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 25, 2011 pension_plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Tribune Company pension plans, allocation of eligible compensation (percent)		3.00%
Number of small defined benefit pension plans (pension plan) | pension_plan			3
Number of frozen defined benefit pension plans (pension plan) | pension_plan						2
Other Company-sponsored pension plan, percent of total projected benefit obligation (percent)			2.00%
Company Contributions			$ 3,000	$ 3,000	$ 3,000
Multiemployer Plans, Collective-Bargaining Arrangement, Percentage of Employer's Contributions			94.00%
Accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans			$ 2,057,000	1,990,000
Defined benefit plan, amount to be amortized from AOCI, period			24 years
Defined Benefit Plan, Percent Increase on Service and Interest Cost Component			1.00%
Employer matching contribution, percent of match on first 2% of eligible pay	100.00%
Employer matching contribution, percent of match on next 4% of eligible pay	50.00%
Defined contribution plan, contribution amount			$ 14,000	16,000	14,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized			13,000	13,000	13,000
100% Match Percentage
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	2.00%
50% Match Percentage
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	4.00%
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan amendments			$ 601	$ 1,025
Long-term rate of return on plans’ assets for expense			6.60%	7.00%
Employer contributions			$ 0	$ 0
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year			36,000
Other Postretirement Plans
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Plan amendments			$ 0	$ 0	$ (4,000)
Amortization Period of Plan Amendment			10 years
Long-term rate of return on plans’ assets for expense			0.00%	0.00%
Assumed annual rate of increase in per capita cost of covered health care benefits, percent			7.00%
Assumed decrease in per capita cost of covered health care benefits, percent			5.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Obligation Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year			7.00%
Employer contributions			$ 914	$ 1,064
Estimated future employer contributions in next fiscal year			$ 1,000