Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Acquisition of other publishing businesses, assets and rights Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Additional paid-in capital Earned royalty advances Depreciation of technology, property and equipment Amortization of intangibles CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION [Abstract] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Cash and cash equivalents Balance at beginning of year Balance at end of year Interest Change in book overdrafts Net taxes payable/receivable Inventories Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities Source/(Use), excluding acquisitions Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common Class B [Member] Class B Common Total Comprehensive Income (Loss): Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Cost of sales Cost of Goods Sold Foreign currency translation adjustment Total Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current Current Liabilities Debt and Available Credit Facilities Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current Deriviative Instruments and Hedging Activities Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Diluted (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash Stock-based compensation Functional Currency Change Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income taxes, net Intangible Assets Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Goodwill Interest expense Interest Expense Inventories Inventory, Net Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity: Current portion of long-term debt Long-Term Debt Cash Used for Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash Used for Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash Provided by Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net Income Net Income Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Increase/(Decrease) for year Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Operating Income Operating Income (Loss) Revenue Other Unamortized pension and retiree medical, net of tax benefit Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plan's Net Unamortized (Gain) Loss Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unamortized pension and retiree medical, tax benefit Foreign currency translation gain (loss) Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Change in unrecognized loss on interest rate swap, net of tax benefit Other Comprehensive Income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Change in unrecognized loss of interest rate swap, tax provision Interest Income and Other, Net Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Cash dividends Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Pension contributions Pension expense Retirement Plans Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued pension liability Preferred Stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred Stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share) Borrowings of long-term debt Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other Technology, Property and Equipment Additions to technology, property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Repayment of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt Purchase of treasury stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Impairment and restructuring charges Retained earnings Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Schedule II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Capital Stock and Changes in Capital Accounts Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Total Current Assets Assets, Current Current Assets Treasury Stock [Member] Diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Basic (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Technology, Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Total Assets Assets Other Long-Term Liabilities Deferred Income Tax Benefits Share-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Statement [Table] Assets: Statement [Line Items] Class of Stock [Domain] Less Treasury Shares At Cost (Class A - 18,577,704 and 19,270,308; Class B - 3,902,576 and 3,902,576) Treasury Stock, Value Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swap Unamortized retirement costs Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax Common Class A [Member] Class A Common Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Deferred revenue Other Assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Operating and administrative expenses Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Other accrued liabilities Costs and Expenses Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Income Before Taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Class of Stock [Axis] Total Shareholders' Equity Total Shareholders' Equity Total Shareholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Provision for Income Taxes Foreign exchange losses Foreign exchange transaction losses Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax Preferred Stock, $1 par value: Authorized - 2 million, Issued - zero Common (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Comprehensive (Loss): Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Accounts receivable Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Shares Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation Exercise of Stock Options, including taxes Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Total Costs and Expenses Costs and Expenses Purchase of Treasury Shares Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method Non-cash tax benefits Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Accrued income taxes Shareholders' Equity Significant Acquisitions Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Description of Business Nature of Operations [Text Block] Other accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued employment costs Employee-related Liabilities, Current Accrued Pension Liability Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Other Stockholders' Equity, Other Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type 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). Prepaid and other 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. Common Stock Value Class A Dollar value of issued Class A common stock whether issued at par value, no par or stated value. This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. Class A Common Stock, $1 par value: Authorized - 180 million, Issued - 69,749,275 and 69,705,591 Common Stock Value Class B Dollar value of issued Class B common stock whether issued at par value, no par or stated value. This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. Class B Common Stock, $1 par value: Authorized - 72 million, Issued - 13,440,987 and 13,484,671 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): [Abstract] Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): Total of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items before treasury stock Total of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items before treasury stock. Total of all Stockholders Equity (deficit) items before treasury stock Additional Provision For Doubtful Accounts Additional amount in current period expense, which is not related the the normal periodic provision for doubtful accounts, charged against operations, the offset which is generally to the allowance for doubtful accounts for the purpose of reducing receivables, including notes receivable, to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected). This charge is nonrecurring and infrequent in nature, and is the result of the evaluation of a receivable for which indicating factors have arisen which led to an individual assessment of its collectibility. Additional provision for doubtful trade account Cash Dividends Per Share [Abstract] Cash Dividends Per Share Averge Shares [Abstract] Average Shares Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Class A Face amount or stated value of Class A common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share. Class A Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock Shares Authorized Class A The maximum number of Class A common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws. Class A Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common Stock Shares Issued Class A Total number of Class A common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. Class A Common Stock, shares issued (in shares) Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Class B Face amount or stated value of Class B common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share. Class B Common Stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock Shares Authorized Class B The maximum number of Class B common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws. Class B Common Stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common Stock Shares Issued Class B Total number of Class B common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. Class B Common Stock, shares issued (in shares) Treasury Stock Shares Class A Number of Class A common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends. Repurchased Class A Common Stock, shares (in shares) Treasury Stock Shares Class B Number of Class B common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends. Repurchased Class B Common Stock, shares (in shares) Interest Income and Other 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. Interest income and other, net Income Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Amortization Of Composition Costs The charge against earnings in the period representing the amortization of composition costs. Amortization of composition costs Additional Provision For Doubtful Accounts Net Of Tax Adjustment, net of income taxes, to remove noncash portion of the additional amount in current period expense, which is not related the the normal periodic provision for doubtful accounts, charged against operations, the offset which is generally to the allowance for doubtful accounts for the purpose of reducing receivables, including notes receivable, to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected). This charge is nonrecurring and infrequent in nature, and is the result of the evaluation of a receivable for which indicating factors have arisen which led to an individual assessment of its collectibility. Additional provision for doubtful trade account, (net of tax) Restructuring Costs And Asset Impairment Charges, Net Of Tax Adjustment, net of income taxes, to remove noncash portion of restructuring costs and impairment charges. Impairment and restructuring charges (net of tax) Cash And Cash Equivalents [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents Provision For Returns Doubtful Accounts Obsolescence Amount of the current period expense charged against operations, the offset which is generally to the allowance for doubtful accounts or sales return reserves, for the purpose of reducing receivables, including notes receivable, to an amount that approximates their net realizable value or to recognize the provision for sales returns. Also includes the charge to cost of goods sold that represents the reduction of the carrying amount of inventory, generally attributable to obsolescence or market conditions. Reserves for returns, doubtful accounts, and obsolescence Cash Paid During Year For [Abstract] Cash Paid During the Year for Class A Common Stock Dividends Equity impact of Class A common stock cash dividends declared by the entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period. Class A Common Stock Dividends Class B Common Stock Dividends Equity impact of Class B common stock cash dividends declared by the entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period. Class B Common Stock Dividends Description of Business [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Acquisitions [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Product Development Assets [Text Block] The disclosure related to royalty advances and composition costs. Product Development Assets Product Development Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract] Additional Provision For Doubtful Accounts [Text Block] Additional Provision For Doubtful Accounts. Additional Provision for Doubtful Trade Account Additional Provision for Doubtful Trade Account [Abstract] Impaired Intangible Asset and Restructuring Disclosure [Text Block] 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. Impairment and Restructuring Charges Impairment and Restructuring Charges [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Debt and Available Credit Facilities [Abstract] Deriviative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Retirement Plans [Abstract] Share-Based Compensation Note [Abstract] Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Capital Stock and Changes in Capital Accounts [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Interest Income and Other, Net [Abstract] Functional Currency Change [Abstract] Schedule II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS [Abstract] Accounts And Royalties Payable Current The aggregate amount of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and the obligations due for compensation payments related to the use of copyrights, patents, trade names, licenses, technology. Accounts and royalties payable Increase Decrease In Accounts And Royalties Payable Includes the increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate amount of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and the increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the obligations due for compensation payments related to the use of copyrights, patents, trade names, licenses, technology. Accounts and royalties payable Composition Spending The cash outflow for composition costs. Composition spending Royalty advances The amount paid to authors, societies, or title owners in advance of their earning royalties from book or journal sales. Such an amount is based on contractual terms. Royalty advances Technology, Property and Equipment [Abstract] Common Stock Class A [Member] A classification of common stock that may be accompanied by more or less voting rights than Class B shares Common Stock Class B [Member] A classification of common stock that may be accompanied by more or less voting rights than Class A shares Entity Information [Line Items] Entities [Table]