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 Accrued Expenses [Abstract] The entire disclosure for accrued liabilities at the end of the reporting period. Accrued Expenses Assets Held for Sale [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract] The entire disclosure for an entity's employee benefit plans, including, but not limited to, defined contribution plans, non-qualified and supplemental benefit plans, deferred compensation and other benefit plans. Employee Benefit Plans Fair Value Measurement [Abstract] Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of non amortizable intangible assets, other than goodwill. Goodwill Mastheads Impairment Goodwill and mastheads impairment 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 Increase in cash for the value of stock issued during the period by a non wholly owned subsidiary. Increase in cash for Stock Issued by non wholly owned subsidiary Stock Issued by non wholly owned subsidiary Lease Commitments [Abstract] The difference between the fair value of the payments made and the carrying amount of the debt at the time of its extinguishment. Non Cash (Gain) Loss On Early Extinguishment Debt Gain on early extinguishment of debt 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. Also includes the cash inflow associated with the amount received from insurance. Proceeds From Sale Assets Proceeds from sale of assets and insurance The total number of treasury stock shares reacquired during the period. Purchase of treasury stock shares Reclassifications [Abstract] The cash outflow to reacquire preferred stock of a subsidiary during the period. Repurchase Subsidiary Preferred Stock Repurchase of subsidiary preferred stock Value of stock issued during the period by a non wholly owned subsidiary. Stock issued by non wholly owned subsidiary Accounts payable Account receivables Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,946 and $2,976 at April 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively Accrued expenses Property, Plant, and equipment, accumulated depreciation Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member] Additional Paid-In Capital Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital [Member] 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 Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts 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 Statement 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 Common stock [Member] Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock shares Common stock shares Common Stock Shares Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common stock Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized at April 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012; 58,313,868 issued and 58,077,031 outstanding at April 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012 Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive loss: [Abstract] Comprehensive loss: Comprehensive loss Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to GateHouse Media Comprehensive loss attributable to GateHouse Media Current portion of long-term debt Indebtedness [Abstract] 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 Stock Compensation Plans Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract] Assets Held for Sale Share-Based Compensation Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Discontinued Operations Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] 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 Earnings (Loss) Per Share Equity Component [Domain] Fair Value Measurement Intangible assets, accumulated amortization Loss on derivative instrument (Gain) loss on derivative instruments (Gain) loss on sale of assets (Gain) loss on sale of assets Decrease of cash from (gain) loss on sale of assets (Gain) loss on sale of assets Gain on early extinguishment of debt Gain on early extinguishment of debt Unaudited Financial Statements Goodwill and mastheads impairment Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill impairment Goodwill Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 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 Income (Loss) from continuing operations Loss from continuing operations Loss from discontinud operations attributable to GateHouse Media, net of income taxes 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 and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes Income tax (benefit) expense Cash income taxes paid 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: Increase (Decrease) in Other Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expenses Prepaid expenses Intangible assets Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $185,366 and $179,327 at April 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively Interest expense Cash interest paid Accrued interest Inventory Lease Commitments 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 provided by (used in) financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Cash flows from investing activities: [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from operating activities: [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) attributable to GateHouse Media Net loss attributable to GateHouse Media Non-controlling interest in subsidiary [Member] Operating costs and expenses: [Abstract] Operating costs and expenses: Operating costs Operating income (loss) Operating income (loss) Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Other current assets Other assets Net actuarial loss on prior service cost, net of income taxes of $0 Net actuarial loss and prior service cost, income tax Loss on derivative instruments, net of income taxes of $0 Loss on derivative instruments, income tax Current portion of long-term liabilities Long-term liabilities, less current portion Income tax benefit Income tax expense (benefit) Other (income) expense Other income 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 Proceeds from sale of other assets Net loss Net loss Property, Plant, and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant, and Equipment Property, plant, and equipment Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $120,936 and $116,780 at April 1, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively Quarterly Results (Unaudited) [Abstract] Quarterly Results (Unaudited) Reclassifications Reclassifications Related Party Transactions [Abstract] 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 Integration and reorganization costs Retained Earnings Accumulated deficit Accumulated deficit [Member] Revenues: [Abstract] Revenues: Revenues Total revenues Subsequent Events Selling, general, and administrative Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Restricted share grants 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