Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation Recent Accounting Standards Share Based Compensation Comprehensive Income Weighted Average Shares For Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Weighted Average Shares For Earnings Per Share Disclosure of the reconciliation of weighted average shares for the calculation of earnings per share, which may include share amount effects of all securities that affect earnings per share, securities that could potentially dilute basic EPS in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would have been antidilutive for the period(s) presented and a description of any transaction that occurs after the end of the most recent period but before issuance of the financial statements that would have changed materially the number of common shares or potential common shares outstanding at the end of the period if the transaction had occurred before the end of the period. Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions and Acquired Publishing Rights Segment Information Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes Retirement Plans Fair Value Measurements Interest Income and Other Net Foreign Exchange Losses Foreign Currency Disclosure Text Block Functional Currency Change Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets: Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Balance at Beginning of Period Balance at End of Period Accounts receivable Inventories Deferred income tax benefits Prepaid And Other Prepaid and other Prepaid Expense, Current combined with the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Total Current Assets Total Current Assets Product Development Assets Product development assets consist of composition costs and royalty advances to authors. Composition costs, primarily represent the costs incurred to bring an edited commercial manuscript to publication including typesetting, proofreading, design and illustration, etc. Royalty advances to authors are capitalized and, upon publication, are recovered as royalties earned by the authors based on sales of the published works. Property, Equipment and Technology Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill Goodwill Deferred Income Tax Benefits Other Assets Total Assets Total Assets Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity: Current Liabilities Accounts and royalties payable Deferred revenue Accrued income taxes Accrued pension liability Other accrued liabilities Current portion of long-term debt Total Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities Long-Term Debt Accrued Pension Liability Other Long-Term Liabilities Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Shareholders Equity Class A & Class B common stock Additional paid-in-capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Treasury stock Treasury stock Total Shareholders Equity Total Shareholders' Equity Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity Income Statement [Abstract] Revenue Costs and Expenses Cost of sales Operating and administrative expenses Amortization of intangibles Total Costs and Expenses Total Costs and Expenses Operating Income Interest Expense Interest Expense Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax Foreign Exchange Losses Foreign Exchange Losses Interest Income and Other Interest Income and Other, net May include income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents the earnings of which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money as well as the aggregate amount of other income amounts resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) profits on securities (net of losses), and (d) miscellaneous other income items. Income Before Taxes Provision For Income Taxes Net Income Net Income Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Income Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Basic Basic Cash Dividends Per Share [Abstract] Cash Dividends Per Share Class Of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock Class of Stock Class of Stock [Domain] Class A Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of Class A common stock outstanding. Class B Common Stock [Member] Class B Common Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of Class B common stock outstanding. Common Class A Common Averge Shares [Abstract] Average Shares Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Financing Activities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Amortization Of Composition Costs Amortization of composition costs The charge against earnings in the period representing the amortization of composition costs. Depreciation of property, equipment and technology Stock-based compensation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities Pension expense, net of contributions Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits Non Cash Charges And Other May include other expenses included in net income that result in no cash inflows or outflows in the period which are not otherwise defined in the taxonomy as well as gains and other income producing transactions that result in no cash inflows or outflows in the period in which they occur, but increase net income and thus are subtracted (removed) when calculating net cash flow from operating activities using the indirect method. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element. Non-cash charges & other Change in deferred revenue Net change in operating assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions Cash Provided by Operating Activities Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities Additions To Product Development Assets Additions to product development assets The cash outflow for composition costs and royalty advances. Additions to property, equipment and technology Additions to property, equipment and technology Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Acquisitions, net of cash acquired Cash Used for Investing Activities Cash Used for Investing Activities Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Borrowings of long-term debt Purchase of Treasury Stock Purchase of Treasury Stock Change in book overdrafts Cash dividends Cash dividends Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Cash (Used for) Provided by Financing Activities Cash Provided by Financing Activities Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents Decrease for the Period Balance at Beginning of Period Balance at End of Period Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash Paid During Period For Cash Paid During the Period for: Interest Income taxes, net Cost of sales CostOfGoodsSold Additions to property, equipment and technology Additions to property, equipment and technology Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment Entity Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Description Document Period End Date Impairment Of Intangible Assets Net Of Tax The aggregate charge, Net of Income Taxes, against earnings resulting from the write down of the carrying amount of intangible assets to a lower fair value. Impairment of intangible assets (net of tax) Document Information [Text Block] Intangible Asset Impairment [Text Block] Intangible Asset Impairment Disclosure Discloses the aggregate charge against earnings resulting from the write down of the carrying amount of intangible assets to a lower fair value and other information related to these charges. Deriviative Instruments and Hedging Activity Impairment and Restructuring Charge Intangible Asset Impairment Restructuring Costs And Asset Impairment Charges, Net Of Tax Impairment and restructuring charges (net of tax) Adjustment to remove the noncash portion of restructuring costs and impairment charges, net of tax. Impaired Intangible Asset and Restructuring Disclosure [Text Block] Impairment and Restructuring Charges This block of text may include a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the recording of impairment charges of intangible assets in the period, the amount of the impairment charges, the methods of determining fair value of the associated assets, the caption in the income statement in which the impairment losses are aggregated, and the segment in which the impaired assets are reported. This block of text also includes a description of restructuring activities including exit and disposal activities, which should include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled. This description does not include impairment of goodwill, nor does it include restructuring costs in connection with a business combination or discontinued operations and long-lived assets (disposal groups) sold or classified as held for sale. Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entities [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class A Class B Employee Related Liabilities Current Accrued employment costs Restructuring And Related Activities Disclosure Text Block Restructuring Reserves Subsequent Events Increase decrease in receivables Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).