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Retirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 25, 2011
Dec. 26, 2010
Dec. 25, 2011
Maximum
Dec. 25, 2011
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans with Unknown Withdrawal Liabilities
Dec. 25, 2011
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans Withdrawal Liabilities
Publishing
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in red zone
Maximum
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in orange zone
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in orange zone
Maximum
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in yellow zone
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in yellow zone
Maximum
Dec. 25, 2011
Plans in green zone
Minimum
Oct. 31, 2010
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
May 31, 2010
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
May 31, 2009
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Dec. 25, 2011
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Dec. 26, 2010
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Dec. 27, 2009
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Dec. 25, 2011
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
Before Amendment
Dec. 25, 2011
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit
After Amendment
Dec. 25, 2011
Gannett Retirement Plan
Mar. 31, 2012
Gannett Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Contributions
Dec. 25, 2011
Newsquest
Dec. 25, 2011
Newsquest
Maximum
Dec. 25, 2011
Multiemployer Plans, Pension
Dec. 26, 2010
Multiemployer Plans, Pension
Dec. 27, 2009
Multiemployer Plans, Pension
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]                                                    
Matching employer contribution percentage                                   50.00% 100.00%              
Employer contribution percentage                                   6.00% 5.00%              
Settlement and special termination benefit charge/(credit)                                 $ (39,800,000)                  
Settlement payment for complete withdrawal from underfunded pension plan                         7,700,000 7,300,000                        
Curtailment gain, pre-tax                       (3,300,000)       (3,840,000)                    
Accumulated benefit obligation                             3,320,000,000 3,190,000,000                    
Net actuarial losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss                             1,530,000,000 1,170,000,000                    
Prior service credits recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss                             69,000,000 75,300,000                    
Actuarial loss estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost                             53,200,000                      
Prior service credit estimated to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost                             7,700,000                      
Employer contribution                             56,392,000 174,578,000       33,000,000 54,000,000 3,900,000        
Employer expected contribution remainder of the year                                         64,000,000          
Employer expected contribution for 2012                                             5,000,000      
Fair value of plan assets 2,518,515,000 [1] 2,644,352,000 [1]                         2,408,768,000 2,588,728,000 2,375,767,000                  
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets                             8.75% 8.75% 8.75%                  
Actual rate of return on plan assets                             0.40% 14.00% 25.60%                  
Plan assets, investment horizon                             5 years                      
Plan assets, shares of common stock                             1.2                      
Plan assets, value of common stock                             17,000,000 19,000,000                    
Plan assets, dividends received                             248,000                      
Multi-employer plans funded percentage           65.00%   80.00%     80.00%                              
Multi-employer plans, plan factor, accumulated/expected funding deficiency, net of amortization extensions, succeeding plan years             6 years   6 years                                  
Multi-employer plans funded percentage                   80.00%                                
Employer's contributions as a percent of total contribution     5.00%                                              
Expenses incurred for multi-employer withdrawal liabilities                                               30,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000
Other long-term liabilities, withdrawal liabilities for multi-employer pension plans $ 42,000,000 $ 12,000,000   $ 27,000,000 $ 27,000,000                                          
[1] The company uses a Dec. 31 measurement date for its retirement plans.