<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.15</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>44</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>139</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>7</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>01 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>011 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>02 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/StatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>03 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>04 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/StatementsOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>041 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/StatementsOfStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06001 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06002 - Disclosure - Accounting Changes and Recently Issued Accounting Standards</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/AccountingChangesAndRecentlyIssuedAccountingStandards</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Changes and Recently Issued Accounting Standards</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06003 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/DiscontinuedOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06004 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06005 - Disclosure - Restricted Cash</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/RestrictedCash</Role>
      <ShortName>Restricted Cash</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06006 - Disclosure - Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/IntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Intangible Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06007 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/LongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06008 - Disclosure - Other Liabilities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/OtherLiabilities</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Liabilities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06009 - Disclosure - Noncontrolling Interests</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/NoncontrollingInterests</Role>
      <ShortName>Noncontrolling Interests</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06010 - Disclosure - Supplemental Cash Flow Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/SupplementalCashFlowInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Supplemental Cash Flow Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06011 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/EmployeeBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Employee Benefit Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06012 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06013 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeLOSS</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06014 - Disclosure - Capital Stock</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/CapitalStock</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Stock</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06015 - Disclosure - Spin-Off of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/SpinOffOfScrippsNetworksInteractiveInc</Role>
      <ShortName>Spin-Off of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06016 - Disclosure - Acquisition</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/Acquisition</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisition</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>06017 - Disclosure - Impairments Charges</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://scripps.com/role/ImpairmentCharges</Role>
      <ShortName>Impairments Charges</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 01 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 011 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 02 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 03 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 041 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>ssp-20110930.xml</File>
    <File>ssp-20110930.xsd</File>
    <File>ssp-20110930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>ssp-20110930_def.xml</File>
    <File>ssp-20110930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>ssp-20110930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
