XML 70 R58.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jan. 31, 2019 | Apr. 30, 2018
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | $ 1,019,801 |
Acquisition | [1] | 109,139 |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | (25,718) |
Ending balance |  | 1,103,222 | $ 1,019,801
Research [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 463,419 |
Acquisition | [1] | 0 |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | (18,338) |
Ending balance |  | 445,081 | 463,419
Publishing [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 283,851 |
Acquisition | [1] | 0 |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | (518) | (11,600)
Ending balance |  | 283,333 | 283,851
Solutions [Member] |  |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Beginning balance |  | 272,531 |
Acquisition | [1] | 109,139 |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | (6,862) | 11,600
Ending balance |  | $ 374,808 | $ 272,531
[1] | Refer to Note 3, "Acquisition," in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to the acquisition of Learning House on November 1, 2018.

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) an asset representing future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=jwa_ResearchSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=jwa_PublishingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=jwa_SolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |