Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer Trading Symbol Assets Held for Sale [Abstract] The difference between the fair value of the payments made and the carrying amount of the debt at the time of its extinguishment. Decrease of cash from (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt Gain on early extinguishment of debt Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Fair Value Measurement [Abstract] The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value including a component of the entity qualifying as a discontinued operation. Impairment of long-lived assets including discontinued operations Impairment of long-lived assets The amount of pension and other (such as medical, dental and life insurance) postretirement benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans (periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments) and for (2) defined contribution plans (to the extent that a plan's defined contributions to an individual's account are to be made for periods in which that individual renders services, the net cost for a period is the contribution called for in that period; if a plan calls for contributions for periods after an individual retires or terminates, the estimated cost is accrued during the employee's service period) in addition to the amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed during the reporting period by the entity to fund its pension plans and its non-pension postretirement benefit plans. Increase (Decrease) in Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations The cash outflow to reacquire treasury stock during the period. Payment for repurchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Abstract] The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period in addition to the cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Proceeds from sale of assets The total number of treasury stock shares reacquired during the period. Purchase of treasury stock shares Reclassifications [Abstract] Accounts payable Account receivables Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,079 and $3,260 at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Accrued expenses Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss Additional Paid-In Capital Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Advertising Amortization of deferred financing costs Impairment of long-lived assets Assets [Abstract] Assets Current assets: [Abstract] Current assets: Current assets Total current assets Assets held for sale Assets Total assets Unaudited Financial Statements [Text Block] Unaudited Financial Statements Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Common stock Amount Common Stock Shares Common Stock Shares Common Stock Shares Common stock Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 58,313,868 and 58,313,868 shares issued, and 58,077,031 and 58,078,607 outstanding at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Comprehensive loss: [Abstract] Comprehensive loss: Comprehensive loss Current portion of long-term debt Indebtedness [Abstract] Indebtedness [Text Block] Indebtedness Deferred financing costs, net Deferred revenue Depreciation and amortization Decrease of Cash from Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Derivative instruments Derivative Instruments [Abstract] Derivative Instruments [Text Block] Derivative Instruments Assets Held for Sale [Text Block] Assets Held for Sale Share-Based Compensation [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Discontinued Operations [Text Block] Discontinued Operations Loss per share: [Abstract] Loss per share: Basic and diluted: [Abstract] Basic and diluted: Earnings Per Share, Net Income (Loss) Attributable to GateHouse Media, Basic and Diluted Net loss attributable to GateHouse Media Equity Component [Domain] Fair Value Measurement [Text Block] Fair Value Measurement Loss on derivative instrument Loss on derivative instruments (Gain) loss on sale of assets Loss on sale of assets Decrease of cash from (gain) loss on sale of assets Loss on sale of assets Gain on early extinguishment of debt Gain on early extinguishment of debt Unaudited Financial Statements [Abstract] Goodwill and mastheads impairment Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill Loss from continuing operations before income taxes Earnings Per Share, Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to GateHouse Media, Basic and Diluted Loss from continuing operations attributable to GateHouse Media Loss from continuing operations Earnings Per Share, Loss from Discontinued Operations, Attributable to GateHouse Media, Net of Income Taxes, Basic and Diluted Loss from discontinued operations, attributable to GateHouse Media, net of income taxes Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Text Block] Income Taxes Income tax expense Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable, Net Accounts receivable, net Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Expenses Accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Interest Accrued interest Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventory Increase (Decrease) in Other Long-term Liabilities Other long-term liabilities Changes in assets and liabilities, net of sales: [Abstract] Changes in assets and liabilities, net of sales: Increase (Decrease) in Other Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expenses Prepaid expenses Intangible assets Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $167,155 and $154,927 at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Interest expense Accrued interest Inventory Liabilities and Stockholders Deficit [Abstract] Liabilities and Stockholders Deficit Liabilities and stockholders' deficit Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit Current liabilities: [Abstract] Current liabilities: Current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities: [Abstract] Long-term liabilities: Liabilities Total liabilities Long-term debt Noncontrolling interest Cash flows from financing activities: [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash used in financing activities Cash flows from investing activities: [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Cash flows from operating activities: [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by operating activities Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to GateHouse Media Non-controlling interest in subsidiary Operating costs and expenses: [Abstract] Operating costs and expenses: Operating costs Operating income (loss) Operating income Other current assets Other assets Net actuarial loss on prior service cost, net of income taxes of $0 Gain on derivative instruments, net of income taxes of $0 Current portion of long-term liabilities Long-term liabilities, less current portion Other (income) expense Other (income) expense Prepaid expenses Commercial printing and other Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Purchases of property, plant, and equipment Purchases of property, plant, and equipment Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations Pension and Postretirement Benefits [Text Block] Pension and Postretirement Benefits Proceeds from sale of other assets Net loss Property, plant, and equipment Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $107,938 and $101,739 at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Reclassifications [Text Block] Reclassifications Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Repayments under long-term debt Repayments under current portion of long-term debt Repayments under short-term note payable Repayments under short-term note payable Repayments under short-term debt Repayments under short-term note payable Repayments under short-term debt Restricted cash Restructuring [Abstract] Restructuring [Text Block] Restructuring Integration and reorganization costs Retained Earnings Accumulated deficit Accumulated deficit Revenues: [Abstract] Revenues: Revenues Total revenues Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events Selling, general, and administrative Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Non-cash compensation expense Short-term Debt Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Statement [Line Items] Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) [Abstract] Statement [Table] Stockholders' deficit: [Abstract] Stockholders' deficit: Balance Balance Stockholders' deficit Total stockholders' deficit Balance at June 30, 2011 Balance at April 1, 2011 Stockholders equity Total GateHouse Media stockholders' deficit Circulation Subsequent Events [Abstract] Treasury stock Amount Treasury Stock Shares Treasury Stock Shares Treasury Stock Shares Treasury stock Treasury stock, at cost, 236,112 and 235,261 shares at March 27, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Treasury stock, at cost, 236,837 and 235,261 shares at June 26, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Decrease of cash from (gain) loss on derivative instrument Loss on derivative instruments Diluted weighted average shares outstanding Basic weighted average shares outstanding