Journal Broadcast Merger and Newspaper Spin-off (Discontinued Operations) Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Other Receivables, Gross, Current	$ 2,000								$ 2,000
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(407)	$ 287	$ 0	$ (18,448)	$ 3,015	$ (2,384)	$ (399)	$ 3,568	(15,840)	$ 1,072	$ 9,611
Acquisition related costs									37,988	9,708	0
Assets:
Total current assets	0	44,425							0	44,425
Liabilities:
Total current liabilities	$ 0	47,642							0	47,642
Spinoff
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Groups, Transaction Costs Expensed									41,000
Operating revenues									91,478	370,316	384,514
Total costs and expenses									(79,869)	(349,210)	(353,563)
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles									(3,608)	(16,890)	(17,240)
Other, net									(3,298)	(1,308)	(291)
Loss on disposal of Scripps Newspapers									(30,000)	0	0
(Loss) income on discontinued operations before income taxes									(25,297)	2,908	13,420
Benefit (provision) for income taxes									9,457	(2,143)	(4,059)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations									(15,840)	765	9,361
Noncontrolling interest									0	(307)	(250)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations									(15,840)	1,072	$ 9,611
Professional fees allocated to discontinued operations									$ 3,000
Assets:
Total current assets		44,425								44,425		$ 43,322
Property, plant and equipment		185,548								185,548		155,047
Intangible assets		2,001								2,001		0
Other assets		2,018								2,018		3,829
Total assets included in the disposal group		233,992								233,992		202,198
Liabilities:
Total current liabilities		47,642								47,642		47,664
Deferred income taxes		14,584								14,584		1,966
Other liabilities		13,089								13,089		9,057
Total liabilities included in the disposal group		75,315								75,315		58,687
Net assets included in the disposal group		$ 158,677								$ 158,677		$ 143,511