| Document and Entity Information | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | |
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | PRE 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Registrant Name | TEGNA Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000039899 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure U_pure in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |||
| Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table | The following table sets forth additional compensation information for our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and non-PEO NEOs, including the compensation actually paid (“CAP”) to our PEO and Average CAP to our non-PEO NEOs, as determined in accordance with SEC rules; total shareholder return (“TSR”); net income (loss); and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020: Value of Initial Fixed Year Summary Compensation Average Average TSR(3) Peer Net Income Adjusted EBITDA 2023 $ 10,965,633 $ 5,523,466 $ 2,387,339 $ 836,443 $ 98.22 $ 91.00 $ 476,724 $ 742,340 2022 $ 7,271,600 $ 9,933,343 $ 2,676,808 $ 3,360,805 $ 134.49 $ 105.70 $ 630,469 $ 1,131,903 2021 $ 6,958,477 $ 12,922,984 $ 2,485,626 $ 3,938,236 $ 115.72 $ 115.29 $ 476,955 $ 948,110 2020 $ 6,713,385 $ 6,052,469 $ 2,506,481 $ 2,081,797 $ 85.36 $ 94.71 $ 482,778 $ 1,024,293 (1) Mr. Lougee was the PEO for all of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. Ms. Harker and Ms. Beall, were the Non-PEO NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020. Mr. Harrison was a Non-PEO NEO for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. He resigned from TEGNA in 2023. Ms. Fisher was hired by TEGNA in 2023 and was a Non-PEO NEO for the year ended December 31, 2023. (2) The following table sets forth the amounts that are deducted from, and added to, the Summary Compensation Table total compensation to calculate the Compensation Actually Paid (CAP), as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the PEO and average CAP, as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the Non-PEO NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020: PEO Average for Non-PEO- NEOs 2023 2022 2021 2020 2023 2022 2021 2020 Summary Compensation Table total $ 10,965,633 $ 7,271,600 $ 6,958,477 $ 6,713,385 $ 2,387,339 $ 2,676,808 $ 2,485,626 $ 2,506,481 Stock awards: (a) Less: Stock awards (as reported on the Summary Compensation Table) $ ( 8,475,002 ) $ ( 4,875,013 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 1,481,253 ) $ ( 1,375,002 ) $ ( 1,126,503 ) $ ( 1,111,498 ) Plus: The fair value at the end of the year for all awards granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ 7,575,956 $ 4,574,871 $ 4,495,908 $ 4,356,277 $ 1,121,723 $ 1,290,493 $ 1,154,794 $ 1,103,722 The change in fair value at the end of the year compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ ( 2,960,427 ) $ 1,525,353 $ 4,716,432 $ ( 422,478 ) $ ( 427,491 ) $ 369,748 $ 1,102,364 $ ( 143,482 ) The change in the fair value at the vesting date compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that vested in the current year $ ( 1,532,272 ) $ 1,436,532 $ 1,145,137 $ ( 136,216 ) $ ( 269,995 ) $ 398,757 $ 322,680 $ ( 50,389 ) Less: The fair value at the end of the prior year for awards granted in prior years that forfeited during the current year - - - - $ ( 422,359 ) - - - The amounts reported as the change in pension benefits, which is the aggregate change in actuarial present value for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans. $ ( 50,421 ) - $ ( 5,465 ) $ ( 70,994 ) $ ( 71,520 ) - $ ( 725 ) $ ( 223,037 ) Compensation actually paid $ 5,523,466 $ 9,933,343 $ 12,922,984 $ 6,052,469 $ 836,443 $ 3,360,805 $ 3,938,236 $ 2,081,797 (a) Includes Performance Share and RSU awards. (3) TSR assumes that an investment of $100 was made in our Common Stock and in each Peer Group company on December 31, 2019 and that all dividends were reinvested, and is measured by dividing total dividends (assuming dividend reinvestment) plus share price change between the beginning and end of the measurement period by the share price at the beginning of the measurement period. Our peer group includes E.W. Scripps Company, Gray Television, Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (collectively, the “Peer Group”). (4) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation of our business. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to TEGNA before (1) net (loss) income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, (2) income taxes, (3) interest expense, (4) interest income, (5) equity loss in unconsolidated investments, net, (6) other non-operating items, net, (7) the Merger termination fee, (8) M&A-related costs, (9) advisory fees related to activism defense, (10) asset impairment and other, (11) employee retention costs, (12) depreciation and (13) amortization of intangible assets. | |||
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | |||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote | (1) Mr. Lougee was the PEO for all of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. Ms. Harker and Ms. Beall, were the Non-PEO NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020. Mr. Harrison was a Non-PEO NEO for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. He resigned from TEGNA in 2023. Ms. Fisher was hired by TEGNA in 2023 and was a Non-PEO NEO for the year ended December 31, 2023. | |||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote | TSR assumes that an investment of $100 was made in our Common Stock and in each Peer Group company on December 31, 2019 and that all dividends were reinvested, and is measured by dividing total dividends (assuming dividend reinvestment) plus share price change between the beginning and end of the measurement period by the share price at the beginning of the measurement period. Our peer group includes E.W. Scripps Company, Gray Television, Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (collectively, the “Peer Group”). | |||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 10,965,633 | $ 7,271,600 | $ 6,958,477 | $ 6,713,385 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 5,523,466 | 9,933,343 | 12,922,984 | 6,052,469 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote | (2) The following table sets forth the amounts that are deducted from, and added to, the Summary Compensation Table total compensation to calculate the Compensation Actually Paid (CAP), as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the PEO and average CAP, as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the Non-PEO NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020: PEO Average for Non-PEO- NEOs 2023 2022 2021 2020 2023 2022 2021 2020 Summary Compensation Table total $ 10,965,633 $ 7,271,600 $ 6,958,477 $ 6,713,385 $ 2,387,339 $ 2,676,808 $ 2,485,626 $ 2,506,481 Stock awards: (a) Less: Stock awards (as reported on the Summary Compensation Table) $ ( 8,475,002 ) $ ( 4,875,013 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 1,481,253 ) $ ( 1,375,002 ) $ ( 1,126,503 ) $ ( 1,111,498 ) Plus: The fair value at the end of the year for all awards granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ 7,575,956 $ 4,574,871 $ 4,495,908 $ 4,356,277 $ 1,121,723 $ 1,290,493 $ 1,154,794 $ 1,103,722 The change in fair value at the end of the year compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ ( 2,960,427 ) $ 1,525,353 $ 4,716,432 $ ( 422,478 ) $ ( 427,491 ) $ 369,748 $ 1,102,364 $ ( 143,482 ) The change in the fair value at the vesting date compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that vested in the current year $ ( 1,532,272 ) $ 1,436,532 $ 1,145,137 $ ( 136,216 ) $ ( 269,995 ) $ 398,757 $ 322,680 $ ( 50,389 ) Less: The fair value at the end of the prior year for awards granted in prior years that forfeited during the current year - - - - $ ( 422,359 ) - - - The amounts reported as the change in pension benefits, which is the aggregate change in actuarial present value for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans. $ ( 50,421 ) - $ ( 5,465 ) $ ( 70,994 ) $ ( 71,520 ) - $ ( 725 ) $ ( 223,037 ) Compensation actually paid $ 5,523,466 $ 9,933,343 $ 12,922,984 $ 6,052,469 $ 836,443 $ 3,360,805 $ 3,938,236 $ 2,081,797 (a) Includes Performance Share and RSU awards. | |||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 2,387,339 | 2,676,808 | 2,485,626 | 2,506,481 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 836,443 | 3,360,805 | 3,938,236 | 2,081,797 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote | (2) The following table sets forth the amounts that are deducted from, and added to, the Summary Compensation Table total compensation to calculate the Compensation Actually Paid (CAP), as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the PEO and average CAP, as determined in accordance with SEC rules, to the Non-PEO NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020: PEO Average for Non-PEO- NEOs 2023 2022 2021 2020 2023 2022 2021 2020 Summary Compensation Table total $ 10,965,633 $ 7,271,600 $ 6,958,477 $ 6,713,385 $ 2,387,339 $ 2,676,808 $ 2,485,626 $ 2,506,481 Stock awards: (a) Less: Stock awards (as reported on the Summary Compensation Table) $ ( 8,475,002 ) $ ( 4,875,013 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 4,387,505 ) $ ( 1,481,253 ) $ ( 1,375,002 ) $ ( 1,126,503 ) $ ( 1,111,498 ) Plus: The fair value at the end of the year for all awards granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ 7,575,956 $ 4,574,871 $ 4,495,908 $ 4,356,277 $ 1,121,723 $ 1,290,493 $ 1,154,794 $ 1,103,722 The change in fair value at the end of the year compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year $ ( 2,960,427 ) $ 1,525,353 $ 4,716,432 $ ( 422,478 ) $ ( 427,491 ) $ 369,748 $ 1,102,364 $ ( 143,482 ) The change in the fair value at the vesting date compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that vested in the current year $ ( 1,532,272 ) $ 1,436,532 $ 1,145,137 $ ( 136,216 ) $ ( 269,995 ) $ 398,757 $ 322,680 $ ( 50,389 ) Less: The fair value at the end of the prior year for awards granted in prior years that forfeited during the current year - - - - $ ( 422,359 ) - - - The amounts reported as the change in pension benefits, which is the aggregate change in actuarial present value for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans. $ ( 50,421 ) - $ ( 5,465 ) $ ( 70,994 ) $ ( 71,520 ) - $ ( 725 ) $ ( 223,037 ) Compensation actually paid $ 5,523,466 $ 9,933,343 $ 12,922,984 $ 6,052,469 $ 836,443 $ 3,360,805 $ 3,938,236 $ 2,081,797 (a) Includes Performance Share and RSU awards. | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return | ||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income | ||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure | ||||
| Tabular List, Table | (6) The following table provides a list of the most important financial performance measures used by the Company to link CAP to Company performance for the most recently completed fiscal year. Adjusted EBITDA Free cash flow Revenue | |||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 98.22 | 134.49 | 115.72 | 85.36 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 91 | 105.7 | 115.29 | 94.71 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 476,724 | $ 630,469 | $ 476,955 | $ 482,778 |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 742,340 | 1,131,903 | 948,110 | 1,024,293 |
| PEO Name | Mr. Lougee | Mr. Lougee | Mr. Lougee | Mr. Lougee |
| Measure:: 1 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Adjusted EBITDA | |||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description | (4) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation of our business. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to TEGNA before (1) net (loss) income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, (2) income taxes, (3) interest expense, (4) interest income, (5) equity loss in unconsolidated investments, net, (6) other non-operating items, net, (7) the Merger termination fee, (8) M&A-related costs, (9) advisory fees related to activism defense, (10) asset impairment and other, (11) employee retention costs, (12) depreciation and (13) amortization of intangible assets. | |||
| Measure:: 2 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Free cash flow | |||
| Measure:: 3 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Revenue | |||
| PEO | Less: Stock awards (as reported on the Summary Compensation Table) | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ (8,475,002) | $ (4,875,013) | $ (4,387,505) | $ (4,387,505) |
| PEO | The fair value at the end of the year for all awards granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 7,575,956 | 4,574,871 | 4,495,908 | 4,356,277 |
| PEO | The change in fair value at the end of the year compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (2,960,427) | 1,525,353 | 4,716,432 | (422,478) |
| PEO | The change in the fair value at the vesting date compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that vested in the current year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (1,532,272) | 1,436,532 | 1,145,137 | (136,216) |
| PEO | The fair value at the end of the prior year for awards granted in prior years that forfeited during the current year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO | The amounts reported as the change in pension benefits, which is the aggregate change in actuarial present value for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans. | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (50,421) | (5,465) | (70,994) | |
| Non-PEO NEO | Less: Stock awards (as reported on the Summary Compensation Table) | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (1,481,253) | (1,375,002) | (1,126,503) | (1,111,498) |
| Non-PEO NEO | The fair value at the end of the year for all awards granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 1,121,723 | 1,290,493 | 1,154,794 | 1,103,722 |
| Non-PEO NEO | The change in fair value at the end of the year compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that were outstanding and unvested at the end of the year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (427,491) | 369,748 | 1,102,364 | (143,482) |
| Non-PEO NEO | The change in the fair value at the vesting date compared to the prior year for all awards granted in the prior year that vested in the current year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (269,995) | 398,757 | 322,680 | (50,389) |
| Non-PEO NEO | The fair value at the end of the prior year for awards granted in prior years that forfeited during the current year | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (422,359) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO | The amounts reported as the change in pension benefits, which is the aggregate change in actuarial present value for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans. | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ (71,520) | $ 0 | $ (725) | $ (223,037) |
