Noncontrolling Interests - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Noncontrolling interest Memphis Newspaper	4.00%
Noncontrolling interest Evansville Newspaper	6.00%

Minority interest ownership percentage by individuals and other entities in company publishes news paper one.

No definition available.

Name:	ssp_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByIndividualsAndOtherEntitiesInCompanyPublishesNewsPaperOne
Namespace Prefix:	ssp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration