Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Goodwill by business segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Media Convergence Group (Newsy)	Jan. 02, 2014 Media Convergence Group (Newsy)	Sep. 30, 2014 Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate and Buffalo ABC affiliate	Jun. 16, 2014 Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate and Buffalo ABC affiliate	Sep. 30, 2014 WeatherSphere	Sep. 30, 2014 Television	Dec. 31, 2013 Television	Sep. 30, 2014 Television Media Convergence Group (Newsy)	Sep. 30, 2014 Television Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate and Buffalo ABC affiliate	Sep. 30, 2014 Television WeatherSphere	Sep. 30, 2014 Newspapers	Dec. 31, 2013 Newspapers	Sep. 30, 2014 Newspapers Media Convergence Group (Newsy)	Sep. 30, 2014 Newspapers Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate and Buffalo ABC affiliate	Sep. 30, 2014 Newspapers WeatherSphere	Sep. 30, 2014 Syndication and other	Dec. 31, 2013 Syndication and other	Sep. 30, 2014 Syndication and other Media Convergence Group (Newsy)	Sep. 30, 2014 Syndication and other Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate and Buffalo ABC affiliate	Sep. 30, 2014 Syndication and other WeatherSphere
Summary of activity related to goodwill by business segment
Gross balance	$ 1,100,737	$ 1,022,280						$ 287,855	$ 243,380				$ 778,900	$ 778,900				$ 33,982	$ 0
Accumulated impairment losses	(994,314)	(994,314)						(215,414)	(215,414)				(778,900)	(778,900)				0	0
Goodwill	106,423	27,966		28,938		44,475		72,441	27,966				0	0				33,982	0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			$ 28,938		$ 44,475		$ 5,044			$ 0	$ 44,475	$ 0			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0			$ 28,938	$ 0	$ 5,044