| Fiscal period | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|
| Period End Date | 12/31/2020 | 12/31/2019 | 12/31/2018 | 12/31/2017 | 12/31/2016 | 12/31/2015 | 12/31/2014 | 12/31/2013 | 12/31/2012 | 12/31/2011 |
|---|
| Operating Revenues | -- | -- | -- | 2,591.85 | 2,481.89 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Advertising | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 299.08 | 308.21 | 275.02 | 337.62 | 327.88 |
| Sales of services | 2,056.23 | 2,111.04 | 2,114.78 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sales of goods | 832.89 | 821.06 | 581.19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Circulation and subscriber | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 732.37 | 710.25 |
| Education | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,927.41 | 2,160.42 | 2,163.73 | 2,184.53 | 2,404.46 |
| Revenue- Other | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 359.63 | 268.40 | 161.84 | 118.06 | 83.41 |
| Total Revenues | 2,889.12 | 2,932.10 | 2,695.97 | 2,591.85 | 2,481.89 | 2,586.11 | 2,737.03 | 2,600.60 | 3,372.59 | 3,526.00 |
| Operating Cost | -- | -- | -- | 1,454.34 | 1,270.03 | 1,206.15 | 1,261.75 | 1,210.86 | 1,535.24 | 1,562.62 |
| Cost of services sold | 1,239.24 | 1,315.93 | 1,172.86 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 672.87 | 632.32 | 413.78 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 74.26 | 59.25 | 56.72 | 62.51 | 64.62 | 77.91 | 74.91 | 101.17 | 240.14 | 223.40 |
| Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets | 30.17 | 9.15 | 8.11 | -- | -- | 259.70 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets | -- | -- | -- | 9.61 | -- | -- | 17.30 | 3.25 | 111.59 | -- |
| Amortization of intangible assets | 56.78 | 53.24 | 47.41 | 41.19 | 26.67 | 19.02 | 18.19 | 11.92 | 19.51 | 22.20 |
| Selling, general and administrative | 715.40 | 717.66 | 750.93 | 887.79 | 896.10 | 1,104.16 | 1,132.16 | 1,123.97 | 1,317.49 | 1,383.66 |
| Impairment of long-lived assets | -- | -- | -- | -- | (1.60) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Gain on sale of land | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Total Operating Expense | 2,788.71 | 2,787.55 | 2,449.81 | 2,455.44 | 2,259.02 | 2,666.94 | 2,504.31 | 2,451.17 | 3,223.97 | 3,191.88 |
| Operating Income (Loss) | 100.41 | 144.55 | 246.16 | 136.40 | 222.87 | (80.83) | 232.72 | 149.43 | 148.61 | 334.12 |
| Interest expense | 38.31 | 29.78 | 37.90 | 33.89 | 35.39 | 32.65 | 35.53 | 35.93 | 35.94 | 33.23 |
| Equity in losses of affiliates | 6.66 | 11.66 | 14.47 | (3.25) | (7.94) | (0.70) | 100.37 | 13.22 | 14.09 | 5.95 |
| Loss on marketable equity securities, net | 60.79 | 98.67 | (15.84) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Interest income | 3.87 | 6.15 | 5.35 | 6.58 | 3.09 | 1.91 | 2.14 | 2.26 | 3.39 | 4.15 |
| Other income (expense), net | 214.53 | 32.43 | 2.10 | 4.24 | (12.64) | (8.62) | 778.01 | (23.75) | (5.46) | (55.20) |
| Debt extinguishment costs | -- | -- | (11.38) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Non-operating pension and postretirement benefit income, net | 59.32 | 162.80 | 120.54 | 72.70 | 80.67 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 407.27 | 426.48 | 323.51 | 182.79 | 250.66 | (120.89) | 1,077.70 | 105.23 | 124.69 | 255.79 |
| Current- Foreign | 6.96 | 9.40 | 10.92 | -- | 8.46 | 2.44 | 10.49 | 10.02 | 12.60 | 9.13 |
| Provision for income taxes | 107.30 | 98.60 | 52.10 | (119.70) | 81.20 | 20.50 | 312.30 | 40.50 | 73.40 | 104.40 |
| Deferred- Foreign | 2.75 | (0.72) | (0.03) | -- | (18.73) | 1.79 | (3.31) | (1.57) | (0.70) | (0.82) |
| Current:State and local | 8.08 | 2.95 | 2.24 | -- | 6.33 | 0.40 | 23.74 | 4.61 | 13.51 | 15.94 |
| Deferred- State and local | 4.95 | 6.63 | (23.81) | -- | (5.16) | (10.75) | 27.26 | (10.64) | (5.14) | 10.48 |
| Deferred: U.S.federal | 6.67 | 63.84 | 16.72 | -- | 33.96 | 20.89 | 38.68 | 26.57 | -- | 26.73 |
| Current: U.S.federal | 77.88 | 16.50 | 46.06 | -- | 56.34 | 5.73 | 215.45 | 11.51 | 101.80 | 42.95 |
| Income from Continuing Operations | -- | -- | -- | 302.49 | -- | (141.39) | 765.40 | 64.73 | 51.29 | 151.39 |
| Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 42.17 | 527.86 | 172.61 | 80.90 | (34.23) |
| Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Cumulative Effect of Change in Method of Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intan | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Net Income (Loss) | 299.97 | 327.88 | 271.41 | 302.49 | 169.46 | (99.22) | 1,293.26 | 237.35 | 132.19 | 117.16 |
| Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (0.40) | 0.02 | 0.20 | 0.45 | 0.87 | 1.44 | (0.58) | 0.48 | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (100.66) | 1,293.84 | -- | 132.11 | 117.15 |
| Redeemable preferred stock dividends | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0.63 | 0.85 | 0.86 | 0.90 | 0.92 |
| Net (loss) income attributable to The Washington Post Company | 300.37 | 327.86 | 271.21 | 302.04 | 168.59 | (101.29) | 1,293.00 | 236.01 | 131.22 | 116.23 |
| Before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Basic income per common share from continuing operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (25.23) | 115.88 | 8.62 | 6.40 | 19.03 |
| Basic loss per common share from discontinued operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7.36 | 79.93 | 23.48 | 10.99 | (4.33) |
| Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle- Basic | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Net Earnings Per Share (Basic) | 58.30 | 61.70 | 50.55 | 54.24 | 29.95 | (17.87) | 195.81 | 32.10 | 17.39 | 14.70 |
| Before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Diluted income per common share from continuing operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (25.23) | 115.40 | 8.61 | 6.40 | 19.03 |
| Diluted loss per common share from discontinued operations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7.36 | 79.63 | 23.44 | 10.99 | (4.33) |
| Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle- Diluted | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Diluted earnings per common share | 58.13 | 61.21 | 50.20 | 53.89 | 29.80 | (17.87) | 195.03 | 32.05 | 17.39 | 14.70 |
| Basic average shares outstanding | 5.12 | 5.29 | 5.33 | 5.52 | 5.56 | 5.73 | 6.47 | 7.24 | 7.36 | 7.83 |
| Diluted average shares outstanding | 5.14 | 5.33 | 5.37 | 5.55 | 5.59 | 5.73 | 6.56 | 7.33 | 7.40 | 7.91 |