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Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Mar. 31, 2013	May 03, 2013
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	wpo
Entity Registrant Name	WASHINGTON POST CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000104889
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,219,383
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,202,149

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 527,815	$ 546,341	$ 551,696	$ 551,774	$ 546,685	$ 2,196,496	$ 2,404,459
Advertising	163,148	225,624	191,779	186,486	167,558	771,447	738,489
Circulation and Subscriber	221,709	220,732	219,137	217,747	213,677	871,293	852,891
Other	46,433	53,127	42,582	33,096	27,581	156,386	113,973
Total Operating Revenues	959,105	1,045,824	1,005,194	989,103	955,501	3,995,622	4,109,812
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	451,981	463,626	480,731	461,788	460,300	1,866,445	1,891,888
Selling, general and administrative	414,556	397,280	380,214	397,465	408,106	1,583,065	1,617,641
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	65,791	79,593	63,397	62,401	61,924	267,315	247,650
Amortization of intangible assets	3,717	7,610	5,091	4,428	3,873	21,002	22,335
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593	0	0	0	111,593	0
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	936,045	1,059,702	929,433	926,082	934,203	3,849,420	3,779,514
Income from Operations	23,060	(13,878)	75,761	63,021	21,298	146,202	330,298
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	3,418	2,785	4,099	3,314	3,888	14,086	5,949
Interest income	510	901	648	775	1,069	3,393	4,147
Interest expense	(8,960)	(9,064)	(8,738)	(8,979)	(9,163)	(35,944)	(33,226)
Other (expense) income, net	(4,083)	(17,572)	4,163	(635)	8,588	(5,456)	(55,200)
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	13,945	(36,828)	75,933	57,496	25,680	122,281	251,968
Provision for Income Taxes	7,300	8,200	31,100	21,200	11,700	72,200	103,500
Income from Continuing Operations	6,645	(45,028)	44,833	36,296	13,980	50,081	148,468
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net Income	5,259	(45,375)	93,947	52,047	31,568	132,187	117,157
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(97)	(64)	71	(11)	(70)	(74)	(7)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company	5,162	(45,439)	94,018	52,036	31,498	132,113	117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(444)	0	(222)	(222)	(451)	(895)	(917)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	4,718	(45,439)	93,796	51,814	31,047	131,218	116,233
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	6,104	(45,092)	44,682	36,063	13,459	49,112	147,544
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net income attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 4,718	$ (45,439)	$ 93,796	$ 51,814	$ 31,047	$ 131,218	$ 116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations	$ 0.82	$ (6.52)	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 1.72	$ 6.23	$ 18.66
Basic (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Basic net income per common share	$ 0.64	(6.57)	12.64	6.84	$ 4.07	17.39	14.70
Basic average number of common shares outstanding	7,227				7,514
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations	$ 0.82	(6.52)	6.02	4.76	$ 1.72	6.23	18.66
Diluted (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Diluted net income per common share	$ 0.64	$ (6.57)	$ 12.64	$ 6.84	$ 4.07	$ 17.39	$ 14.70
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding	7,266				7,615

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net Income	$ 5,259	$ 31,568
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Translation adjustments arising during the period	(4,191)	7,823
Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations	0	513
Total foreign currency translation adjustments, before tax	(4,191)	8,336
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains for the period	49,078	32,315
Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale security included in net income	(551)	0
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, before tax	48,527	32,315
Pension and other postretirement plans:
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income	(437)	(451)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income	2,317	1,657
Settlement gain included in net income	(3,471)	0
Total pension and other postretirement plans, before tax	(1,591)	1,206
Cash flow hedge gain (loss)	30	(35)
Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax	42,775	41,822
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(18,787)	(13,393)
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax	23,988	28,429
Comprehensive Income	29,247	59,997
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(118)	(90)
Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company	$ 29,129	$ 59,907

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 300,652	$ 512,431
Restricted cash	37,457	28,538
Investments in marketable equity securities and other investments	470,023	418,938
Accounts receivable, net	372,466	399,204
Deferred income taxes	0	3,974
Inventories	3,929	7,985
Other current assets	91,454	82,692
Total Current Assets	1,275,981	1,453,762
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,045,670	1,081,237
Investments In Affiliates	22,068	15,535
Goodwill, Net	1,309,663	1,317,915
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	539,728	539,728
Amortized Intangible Assets, Net	42,053	45,577
Prepaid Pension Cost	589,230	604,823
Deferred Charges and Other Assets	52,113	46,492
Total Assets	4,876,506	5,105,069
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	444,972	486,396
Income taxes payable	2,992	726
Deferred income taxes	15,597	0
Deferred revenue	403,098	395,837
Dividends declared	222	0
Short-term borrowings	3,169	243,327
Total Current Liabilities	870,050	1,126,286
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions	60,804	59,949
Accrued Compensation and Related Benefits	214,745	216,280
Other Liabilities	107,210	109,774
Deferred Income Taxes	530,667	529,427
Long-Term Debt	453,726	453,384
Total Liabilities	2,237,202	2,495,100
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	12,664	12,655
Redeemable Preferred Stock	11,096	11,096
Preferred Stock	0	0
Common Stockholders' Equity
Common stock	20,000	20,000
Capital in excess of par value	244,176	240,746
Retained earnings	4,551,493	4,546,775
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	21,881	26,072
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	139,669	110,553
Unrealized gain on pensions and other postretirement plans	116,214	117,169
Cash flow hedge	(922)	(940)
Cost of Class B common stock held in treasury	(2,477,245)	(2,474,347)
Total Common Stockholders' Equity	2,615,266	2,586,028
Noncontrolling interests	278	190
Total Equity	2,615,544	2,586,218
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 4,876,506	$ 5,105,069

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 5,259	$ 31,568
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	65,973	63,254
Amortization of intangible assets	3,717	4,278
Net pension expense	4,390	2,192
Multiemployer pension plan withdrawal charge	349	0
Early retirement program expense	14,258	1,022
Foreign exchange loss (gain)	4,614	(2,660)
Net loss on sales of businesses	70	3,082
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of distributions	(3,408)	(3,691)
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	1,877	(23,744)
Net loss (gain) on sale or write-down of property, plant and equipment and other assets	515	(7,203)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Decrease in accounts receivable, net	23,020	36,716
Decrease in inventories	3,658	2,016
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(43,487)	(22,828)
Increase in deferred revenue	15,529	3,647
Increase in income taxes payable	2,273	11,019
Increase in other assets and other liabilities, net	(24,202)	(14,817)
Other	(387)	165
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	74,018	84,016
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(36,462)	(44,875)
Net proceeds from sales of businesses, property, plant and equipment and other assets	3,636	7,702
Purchases of marketable equity securities and other investments	(8,623)	(23,003)
Investments in certain businesses, net of cash acquired	(700)	(2,545)
Other	(18)	1,571
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(42,167)	(61,150)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Repayment of short-term borrowing	(240,121)	(109,671)
Common shares repurchased	(4,196)	(136)
Dividends paid	(222)	(18,889)
Other	3,311	16,459
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(241,228)	(112,237)
Effect of Currency Exchange Rate Change	(2,402)	3,263
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(211,779)	(86,108)
Beginning Cash and Cash Equivalents	512,431	381,099
Ending Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 300,652	$ 294,991

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Common Shareholders' Equity - 3 months ended Mar. 31, 2013 $ in Thousands	USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,586,218
Net income for the year	5,259
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest(s)	97
Dividends paid on redeemable preferred stock	444
Repurchase of Class B common stock	4,196
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,191)
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	29,116
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(955)
Cash flow hedge	(94)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 2,615,544

- Definition

The portion of net Income or Loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (if any) deducted in order to derive the portion attributable to the parent.

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+ Details

- Definition

Gross appreciation or the gross loss in value of the total unsold securities. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label.

+ References

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- Definition

Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.

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- Definition

Change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of tax effect. The after tax effect change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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+ Details

- Definition

Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

+ References + Details

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Organization, Basis Of Presentation And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Organization and Nature of Operations

1. ORGANIZATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Washington Post Company, Inc. (the Company) is a diversified education and media company. The Company's Kaplan subsidiary provides a wide variety of educational services, both domestically and outside the United States. The Company's media operations consist of the ownership and operation of cable television systems, newspaper publishing (principally The Washington Post), and television broadcasting (through the ownership and operation of six television broadcast stations).

Financial Periods – The Company and its subsidiaries report on a calendar-quarter basis, with the exception of most of the newspaper publishing operations, which report on a thirteen week quarter ending on the Sunday nearest the calendar quarter-end.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information; (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q; and (iii) the guidance of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned or otherwise controlled by the Company. As permitted under such rules, certain notes and other financial information normally required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Management believes the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the periods presented herein. The Company's results of operations for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 may not be indicative of the Company's future results. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which includes the reclassification of the results of operations of certain businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported herein. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.

Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued final guidance on the presentation of reclassifications out of other comprehensive income to net income. The amendment requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the income statement or in a footnote, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income, only if the amount reclassified is required by GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide detail about those amounts. This amendment is effective for interim and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the amendment in the first quarter of 2013 is reflected in the Company's Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Discontinued Operations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Discontinued Operations [Abstract]

Discontinued Operations [Text Block]

2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In March 2013, the Company completed the sale of The Herald, a daily and Sunday newspaper headquartered in Everett, WA. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchaser received most of the assets and liabilities; however, certain land and buildings and other assets and liabilities were retained by the Company. The results of operations of The Herald for the first quarter of 2013 and 2012, are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax. All corresponding prior period operating results presented in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes have been reclassified to reflect the discontinued operations presented. The Company did not reclassify its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or Statements of Cash Flows to reflect the discontinued operations.

In August 2012, the Company completed the sale of Kidum and recorded a pre-tax gain of $3.6 million and an after-tax gain of $10.2 million related to this sale in the third quarter of 2012. On July 31, 2012, the Company disposed of its interest in Avenue100 Media Solutions, Inc. and recorded a pre-tax loss of $5.7 million related to the disposition. An income tax benefit of $44.5 million was also recorded in the third quarter of 2012 as the Company determined that Avenue100 had no value. The income tax benefit was due to the Company's tax basis in the stock of Avenue100 exceeding its net book value, as a result of goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges recorded in 2008, 2010 and 2011 for which no tax benefit was previously recorded. In April 2012, the Company completed the sale of Kaplan EduNeering. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchaser acquired the stock of EduNeering and received substantially all the assets and liabilities. In the second quarter of 2012, the Company recorded an after-tax gain of $18.5 million related to this sale. In February 2012, Kaplan completed the stock sale of Kaplan Learning Technologies (KLT) and recorded an after-tax loss on the sale of $1.9 million. The Company recorded $23.2 million of income tax benefits in the first quarter of 2012 in connection with the sale of its stock in EduNeering and KLT related to the excess of the outside stock tax basis over the net book value of the net assets disposed. The results of operations of Kidum, Avenue100, EduNeering, and KLT, for the first quarter of 2012 are included in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax.

The summarized (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, is presented below:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Operating revenues	$	3,461	$	23,171
Operating costs and expenses		(5,477)		(27,344)
Loss from discontinued operations		(2,016)		(4,173)
Benefit from income taxes		(676)		(23,700)
Net (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations		(1,340)		19,527
Loss on sale of discontinued operations		(70)		(3,082)
Benefit from income taxes on sale of discontinued operations		(24)		(1,143)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	$	(1,386)	$	17,588

The following table summarizes the 2012 quarterly operating results of the Company following the reclassification of the operations discussed above as discontinued operations:

		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
	Advertising		167,558		186,486		191,779		225,624
	Circulation and subscriber		213,677		217,747		219,137		220,732
	Other		27,581		33,096		42,582		53,127
			955,501		989,103		1,005,194		1,045,824
Operating Costs and Expenses
	Operating		460,300		461,788		480,731		463,626
	Selling, general and administrative		408,106		397,465		380,214		397,280
	Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		61,924		62,401		63,397		79,593
	Amortization of intangible assets		3,873		4,428		5,091		7,610
	Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		―		―		―		111,593
			934,203		926,082		929,433		1,059,702
Income (Loss) from Operations			21,298		63,021		75,761		(13,878)
	Equity in earnings of affiliates, net		3,888		3,314		4,099		2,785
	Interest income		1,069		775		648		901
	Interest expense		(9,163)		(8,979)		(8,738)		(9,064)
	Other income (expense), net		8,588		(635)		4,163		(17,572)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes			25,680		57,496		75,933		(36,828)
Provision for Income Taxes			11,700		21,200		31,100		8,200
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations			13,980		36,296		44,833		(45,028)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax			17,588		15,751		49,114		(347)
Net Income (Loss)			31,568		52,047		93,947		(45,375)
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			(70)		(11)		71		(64)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company			31,498		52,036		94,018		(45,439)
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends			(451)		(222)		(222)		―
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders	$	31,047	$	51,814	$	93,796	$	(45,439)
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	13,459	$	36,063	$	44,682	$	(45,092)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			17,588		15,751		49,114		(347)
Net income (loss) attributable to the Washington Post
	Company common stockholders	$	31,047	$	51,814	$	93,796	$	(45,439)
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post
	Company Common Stockholders
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations		$	1.72	$	4.76	$	6.02	$	(6.52)
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			2.35		2.08		6.62		(0.05)
Basic net income (loss) per common share		$	4.07	$	6.84	$	12.64	$	(6.57)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations		$	1.72	$	4.76	$	6.02	$	(6.52)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			2.35		2.08		6.62		(0.05)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share		$	4.07	$	6.84	$	12.64	$	(6.57)

The following table summarizes the annual operating results of the Company following the reclassification of operations discussed above as discontinued operations:

(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
	Advertising		771,447		738,489
	Circulation and subscriber		871,293		852,891
	Other		156,386		113,973
			3,995,622		4,109,812
Operating Costs and Expenses
	Operating		1,866,445		1,891,888
	Selling, general and administrative		1,583,065		1,617,641
	Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		267,315		247,650
	Amortization of intangible assets		21,002		22,335
	Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593		―
			3,849,420		3,779,514
Income from Operations			146,202		330,298
	Equity in earnings of affiliates, net		14,086		5,949
	Interest income		3,393		4,147
	Interest expense		(35,944)		(33,226)
	Other expense, net		(5,456)		(55,200)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes			122,281		251,968
Provision for Income Taxes			72,200		103,500
Income from Continuing Operations			50,081		148,468
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax			82,106		(31,311)
Net Income			132,187		117,157
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			(74)		(7)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company			132,113		117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends			(895)		(917)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders		$	131,218	$	116,233
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations		$	49,112	$	147,544
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			82,106		(31,311)
Net income attributable to the Washington Post Company common stockholders		$	131,218	$	116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common
	Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations		$	6.23	$	18.66
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			11.16		(3.96)
Basic net income per common share		$	17.39	$	14.70
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations		$	6.23	$	18.66
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			11.16		(3.96)
Diluted net income per common share		$	17.39	$	14.70

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the facts and circumstances leading to the completed or expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the segment in which the disposal group was reported, and the classification (whether sold or classified as held for sale) and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group. Includes all disposal groups, including those classified as components of the entity (discontinued operations).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 43-48
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2941-110230

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1510-107760

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1020-107759

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1012-107759

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
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-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1474-107760

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6390789&loc=d3e2443-110228

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1436-107760

+ Details

Investments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Investments [Abstract]

Investments [Text Block]

3. INVESTMENTS

Investments in marketable equity securities comprised the following:

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Total cost	$	194,319	$	195,832
Net unrealized gains		232,782		184,255
Total Fair Value	$	427,101	$	380,087

There were no new investments in marketable equity securities during the first quarter of 2013. The Company made $30.0 million in investments in marketable equity securities during the first quarter of 2012, of which $7.7 million was settled in April 2012. During the first quarter of 2013, the proceeds from sales of marketable equity securities were $2.1 million, and net realized gains on such sales were $0.6 million. There were no sales of marketable equity securities in the first quarter of 2012.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company has a $3.7 million unrealized loss on its investment in Strayer Education, Inc., a publicly traded company. At March 31, 2013, the investment has been in an unrealized loss position for under three months. The Company evaluated this investment for other-than-temporary impairment based on various factors, including the duration and severity of the unrealized loss, the reason for the decline in value and the potential recovery period, and the ability and intent to hold the investment and concluded that the unrealized loss is not other-than-temporary as of March 31, 2013. If any impairment is considered other-than-temporary, the investment will be written down to its fair market value with a corresponding charge to the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Acquisitions And Dispositions [Abstract]

Acquisitions and Dispositions [Text Block]

4. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

In the first quarter of 2013, the Company acquired one small business included in other businesses; the purchase price allocation mostly comprised goodwill and other intangible assets on a preliminary basis. In the first quarter of 2012, Kaplan acquired two small businesses in its International division; the purchase price allocation mostly comprised goodwill and other intangible assets. The assets and liabilities of the companies acquired have been recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

In March 2013, the Company completed the sale of The Herald, a daily and Sunday newspaper headquartered in Everett, WA. The Herald was previously reported in the newspaper publishing segment. Kaplan completed the sale of Kaplan Learning Technologies in February 2012, which was part of the Kaplan Ventures division.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Text Block]

5. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Amortization of intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 was $3.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $9 million for the remainder of 2013, $9 million in 2014, $7 million in 2015, $6 million in 2016, $4 million in 2017, $4 million in 2018 and $3 million thereafter.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, were as follows:

				Cable		Newspaper		Television		Other
(in thousands)		Education		Television		Publishing		Broadcasting		Businesses		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012
	Goodwill	$	1,097,058	$	85,488	$	81,183	$	203,165	$	19,052	$	1,485,946
	Accumulated impairment losses		(102,259)		―		(65,772)		―		―		(168,031)
			994,799		85,488		15,411		203,165		19,052		1,317,915
Acquisitions			―		―		―		―		627		627
Foreign currency exchange rate changes			(8,879)		―		―		―		―		(8,879)
Balance as of March 31, 2013
	Goodwill		1,088,179		85,488		71,448		203,165		19,679		1,467,959
	Accumulated impairment losses		(102,259)		―		(56,037)		―		―		(158,296)
		$	985,920	$	85,488	$	15,411	$	203,165	$	19,679	$	1,309,663

The changes in carrying amount of goodwill at the Company's education division were as follows:

		Higher		Test		Kaplan
(in thousands)		Education		Preparation		International		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012
	Goodwill	$	409,184	$	152,187	$	535,687	$	1,097,058
	Accumulated impairment losses		―		(102,259)		―		(102,259)
			409,184		49,928		535,687		994,799
Foreign currency exchange rate changes			(50)		―		(8,829)		(8,879)
Balance as of March 31, 2013
	Goodwill		409,134		152,187		526,858		1,088,179
	Accumulated impairment losses		―		(102,259)		―		(102,259)
		$	409,134	$	49,928	$	526,858	$	985,920

Other intangible assets consist of the following:

			As of March 31, 2013						As of December 31, 2012
			Gross				Net		Gross				Net
		Useful Life	Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying		Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying
(in thousands)		Range	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amount		Amortization		Amount
Amortized Intangible Assets
	Non-compete agreements	2-5 years	$	13,849	$	12,670	$	1,179	$	14,008	$	12,546	$	1,462
	Student and customer relationships	2-10 years		73,457		42,651		30,806		73,693		40,787		32,906
	Databases and technology	3-5 years		6,457		6,082		375		6,457		5,707		750
	Trade names and trademarks	2-10 years		26,372		18,364		8,008		26,634		18,185		8,449
	Other	1-25 years		8,872		7,187		1,685		8,849		6,839		2,010
			$	129,007	$	86,954	$	42,053	$	129,641	$	84,064	$	45,577
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	Franchise agreements		$	496,321					$	496,321
	Wireless licenses			22,150						22,150
	Licensure and accreditation			7,371						7,371
	Other			13,886						13,886
			$	539,728					$	539,728

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

+ References + Details

Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Debt [Abstract]

Debt [Text Block]

6. DEBT

The Company's borrowings consist of the following:

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
7.25% unsecured notes due February 1, 2019	$	397,583	$	397,479
USD Revolving credit borrowing		―		240,121
AUD Revolving credit borrowing		52,082		51,915
Other indebtedness		7,230		7,196
Total Debt		456,895		696,711
Less: current portion		(3,169)		(243,327)
Total Long-Term Debt	$	453,726	$	453,384

The Company's other indebtedness at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is at interest rates from 0% to 6% and matures from 2013 to 2017.

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, the Company had average borrowings outstanding of approximately $516.7 million and $484.5 million, respectively, at average annual interest rates of approximately 7.0%. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012, the Company incurred net interest expense of $8.5 million and $8.1 million, respectively.

At March 31, 2013, the fair value of the Company's 7.25% unsecured notes, based on quoted market prices, totaled $471.5 million, compared with the carrying amount of $397.6 million. At December 31, 2012, the fair value of the Company's 7.25% unsecured notes, based on quoted market prices, totaled $481.4 million, compared with the carrying amount of $397.5 million. The carrying value of the Company's other unsecured debt at March 31, 2013 approximates fair value.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

+ References + Details

Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements [Text Block]

7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability based on a three-tiered hierarchy that draws a distinction between market participant assumptions based on (i) observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets (Level 1); (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2); and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (Level 3). Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measure. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

The Company's financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

(in thousands)			Level 1		Level 2		Total
As of March 31, 2013
Assets
	Money market investments (1)		$	―	$	190,915	$	190,915
	Marketable equity securities (2)			427,101		―		427,101
	Other current investments (3)			14,495		28,427		42,922
		Total Financial Assets	$	441,596	$	219,342	$	660,938

Liabilities
	Deferred compensation plan liabilities (4)		$	―	$	60,919	$	60,919
	7.25% unsecured notes (5)			―		471,528		471,528
	AUD revolving credit borrowing (5)			―		52,082		52,082
	Interest rate swap (6)			―		1,537		1,537
		Total Financial Liabilities	$	―	$	586,066	$	586,066

As of December 31, 2012
Assets
	Money market investments (1)		$	―	$	432,670	$	432,670
	Marketable equity securities (2)			380,087		―		380,087
	Other current investments (3)			14,134		24,717		38,851
		Total Financial Assets	$	394,221	$	457,387	$	851,608

Liabilities
	Deferred compensation plan liabilities (4)		$	―	$	62,297	$	62,297
	7.25% unsecured notes (5)			―		481,424		481,424
	AUD revolving credit borrowing (5)			―		51,915		51,915
	Interest rate swap (6)			―		1,567		1,567
		Total Financial Liabilities	$	―	$	597,203	$	597,203

____________

(1) The Company's money market investments are included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash.

(2) The Company's investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale.

(3) Includes U.S. Government Securities, corporate bonds, mutual funds and time deposits (with original maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year).

(4) Includes The Washington Post Company Deferred Compensation Plan and supplemental savings plan benefits under The Washington Post Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which are included in accrued compensation and related benefits.

(5) See Note 6 for carrying amount of these notes and borrowing.

(6) Included in Other liabilities. The Company utilized a market approach model using the notional amount of the interest rate swap multiplied by the observable inputs of time to maturity and market interest rates.

For assets that are measured using quoted prices in active markets, the total fair value is the published market price per unit multiplied by the number of units held without consideration of transaction costs. Assets and liabilities that are measured using significant other observable inputs are primarily valued by reference to quoted prices of similar assets or liabilities in active markets, adjusted for any terms specific to that asset or liability.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 44A, 44B
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15C, 15D
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph a-d
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 15B
-Subparagraph a, b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32, 33, 34
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
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+ Details

Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

8. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company's earnings per share from continuing operations (basic and diluted) are presented below:

			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)			2013		2012
Income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	6,104	$	13,459
Less: Amount attributable to participating securities				(160)		(501)
Basic income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	5,944	$	12,958

Plus: Amount attributable to participating securities				160		501
Diluted income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	6,104	$	13,459

Basic weighted average shares outstanding				7,227		7,514
Plus: Effect of dilutive shares related to stock options and restricted stock				39		101
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				7,266		7,615

Income Per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders:
		Basic	$	0.82	$	1.72
		Diluted	$	0.82	$	1.72

For the first quarter of 2013 and 2012, the basic earnings per share computed under the two-class method is lower than the diluted earnings per share computed under the if-converted method for participating securities, resulting in the presentation of the lower amount in diluted earnings per share. The first quarter of 2013 and 2012 diluted earnings per share amounts exclude the effects of 85,861 and 115,294 stock options outstanding, respectively, as their inclusion would be antidilutive. The first quarter of 2013 and 2012 diluted earnings per share amounts also exclude the effects of 52,200 and 7,500 restricted stock awards, respectively, as their inclusion would have been antidilutive.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company declared regular dividends totaling $4.90 per share. In December 2012, the Company declared and paid an accelerated cash dividend totaling $9.80 per share, in lieu of regular quarterly dividends that the Company otherwise would have declared and paid in calendar year 2013.

Pension and Postretirement Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Pension and Postretirement Plans [Abstract]

Pension and Postretirement Plans [Text Block]

9. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

Defined Benefit Plans. The total cost arising from the Company's defined benefit pension plans, including a portion included in discontinued operations, consists of the following components:

					Supplemental Executive
	Pension Plan				Retirement Plan
	Three Months Ended March 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Service cost	$	13,365	$	9,107	$	429	$	367
Interest cost		14,291		14,591		1,023		1,060
Expected return on assets		(26,322)		(24,012)		―		―
Amortization of prior service cost		909		937		14		14
Recognized actuarial loss		2,147		1,569		711		458
Net Periodic Cost		4,390		2,192		2,177		1,899
Early retirement program expense		14,258		1,022		―		―
Total Cost	$	18,648	$	3,214	$	2,177	$	1,899

The Company announced a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program in February 2013, which was offered to certain employees of the Washington Post newspaper. The early retirement program expense is estimated at $20.4 million. Of this amount, $12.0 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2013 and the remainder will be recorded in the second quarter of 2013. In addition, the Washington Post newspaper recorded $2.3 million in special separation benefits for a group of employees. The early retirement program expense and special separation benefits for these programs will be funded from the assets of the Company's pension plan.

In the first quarter of 2012, the Company offered a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program to certain employees of Post-Newsweek Media and recorded early retirement program expense of $1.0 million. The early retirement program expense for these programs is funded from the assets of the Company's pension plan.

Defined Benefit Plan Assets. The Company's defined benefit pension obligations are funded by a portfolio made up of a relatively small number of stocks and high-quality fixed-income securities that are held by a third-party trustee. The assets of the Company's pension plan were allocated as follows:

	As of
	March 31,			December 31,
	2013			2012
U.S. equities		64	%		64	%
U.S. fixed income		11	%		13	%
International equities		25	%		23	%
		100	%		100	%

Essentially all of the assets are actively managed by two investment companies. The goal of the investment managers is to produce moderate long-term growth in the value of these assets, while protecting them against large decreases in value. Both of these managers may invest in a combination of equity and fixed-income securities and cash. The managers are not permitted to invest in securities of the Company or in alternative investments. The investment managers cannot invest more than 20% of the assets at the time of purchase in the stock of Berkshire Hathaway or more than 10% of the assets in the securities of any other single issuer, except for obligations of the U.S. Government, without receiving prior approval by the Plan administrator. As of March 31, 2013, the managers can invest no more than 24% of the assets in international stocks at the time the investment is made, and no less than 10% of the assets could be invested in fixed-income securities. None of the assets is managed internally by the Company.

In determining the expected rate of return on plan assets, the Company considers the relative weighting of plan assets, the historical performance of total plan assets and individual asset classes and economic and other indicators of future performance. In addition, the Company may consult with and consider the input of financial and other professionals in developing appropriate return benchmarks.

The Company evaluated its defined benefit pension plan asset portfolio for the existence of significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10% of plan assets) of credit risk as of March 31, 2013. Types of concentrations that were evaluated include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country and individual fund. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the pension plan held common stock in one investment that exceeded 10% of total plan assets. This investment was valued at $280.0 million and $223.1 million at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, or approximately 12% and 11%, respectively, of total plan assets. Assets also included $209.7 million and $179.9 million of Berkshire Hathaway common stock at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the pension plan held investments in one foreign country that exceeded 10% of total plan assets. These investments were valued at $298.2 million and $240.4 million at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, or approximately 13% and 12%, respectively, of total plan assets.

Other Postretirement Plans. The total benefit arising from the Company's postretirement plans, including a portion included in discontinued operations, consists of the following components:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Service cost	$	727	$	778
Interest cost		510		684
Amortization of prior service credit		(1,360)		(1,402)
Recognized actuarial gain		(541)		(370)
Net Periodic Benefit		(664)		(310)
Settlement gain		(3,471)		―
Total Periodic Benefit	$	(4,135)	$	(310)

As part of the sale of The Herald, changes were made with respect to its postretirement medical plan, resulting in a $3.5 million settlement gain that is included in discontinued operations, net of tax, for the first quarter of 2013.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph q
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph m
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 03-2
-Paragraph 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 30
-Paragraph 26
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-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS106-2
-Paragraph 20, 21, 22
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Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 158
-Paragraph 7, 21, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5, 6, 7, 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Implementation Guide (Q and A)
-Number FAS88
-Paragraph 63
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2235017

+ Details

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Abstract]

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Text Block]

10. OTHER NON-OPERATING (EXPENSE) INCOME

A summary of non-operating (expense) income is as follows:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Foreign currency (losses) gains, net		$	(4,614)	$	2,660
(Losses) gains on sales or write-downs of cost method investments			(179)		5,766
Other, net			710		162
	Total Other Non-Operating (Expense) Income	$	(4,083)	$	8,588

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Text Block]

11. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The other comprehensive income (loss) consists of the following components:

			For the Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2013							2012
			Before-Tax		Income		After-Tax		Before-Tax		Income		After-Tax
(in thousands)			Amount		Tax		Amount		Amount		Tax		Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
	Translation adjustments arising during the period		$	(4,191)	$	―	$	(4,191)	$	7,823	$	―	$	7,823
	Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations			―		―		―		513		―		513
				(4,191)		―		(4,191)		8,336		―		8,336
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains for the period			49,078		(19,631)		29,447		32,315		(12,925)		19,390
	Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale
		security included in net income		(551)		220		(331)		―		―		―
				48,527		(19,411)		29,116		32,315		(12,925)		19,390
Pension and other postretirement plans:
	Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income			(437)		175		(262)		(451)		180		(271)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income			2,317		(927)		1,390		1,657		(662)		995
	Settlement gain included in net income			(3,471)		1,388		(2,083)		―		―		―
				(1,591)		636		(955)		1,206		(482)		724
Cash flow hedge:
	Gain (loss) for the period			30		(12)		18		(35)		14		(21)
Other Comprehensive Income			$	42,775	$	(18,787)	$	23,988	$	41,822	$	(13,393)	$	28,429

The accumulated balances related to each component of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

			Cumulative				Unrealized Gain
			Foreign				on Pensions				Accumulated
			Currency		Unrealized Gain		and Other				Other
			Translation		on Available-for-		Postretirement		Cash Flow		Comprehensive
(in thousands, net of taxes)			Adjustment		Sale Securities		Plans		Hedge		Income
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	26,072	$	110,553	$	117,169	$	(940)	$	252,854
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before
		reclassifications		(4,191)		29,447		―		(94)		25,162
	Net amount reclassified from accumulated
		other comprehensive income		―		(331)		(955)		112		(1,174)
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)			(4,191)		29,116		(955)		18		23,988
Balance as of March 31, 2013			$	21,881	$	139,669	$	116,214	$	(922)	$	276,842

The amounts and line items of reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income are as follows:

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2013
		Amount Reclassified from
		Accumulated Other		Affected Line Item in the Condensed
(in thousands)		Comprehensive Income		Consolidated Statement of Operations
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-sale Securities:
	Realized gains for the period	$	(551)	Other (Expense) Income, net
			220	Provision for Income Taxes
			(331)	Net of Tax
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
	Amortization of net prior service credit		(437)	(1)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss		2,317	(1)
	Settlement gain		(3,471)	(1)
			(1,591)	Before tax
			636	Provision for Income Taxes
			(955)	Net of Tax
Cash Flow Hedge
			186	Interest Expense
			(74)	Provision for Income Taxes
			112	Net of Tax
Total reclassification for the period		$	(1,174)	Net of Tax

____________

(1) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 9).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for comprehensive income. Includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1) the amount of income tax expense or benefit allocated to each component of other comprehensive income, including reclassification adjustments, 2) the reclassification adjustments for each classification of other comprehensive income and 3) the ending accumulated balances for each component of comprehensive income. Components of comprehensive income include: (1) foreign currency translation adjustments; (2) gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity; (3) gains (losses) on intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; (4) change in the market value of a futures contract that qualifies as a hedge of an asset reported at fair value; (5) unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and that resulting from transfers of debt securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category; (6) a net loss recognized as an additional pension liability not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost; and (7) the net gain (loss) and net prior service cost or credit for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 14-26
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+ Details

Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Contingencies [Abstract]

Contingencies [Text Block]

12. CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Legal Matters. The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Although the outcomes of the legal claims and proceedings against the Company cannot be predicted with certainty, based on currently available information, management believes that there are no existing claims or proceedings that are likely to have a material effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Also, based on currently available information, management is of the opinion that the exposure to future material losses from existing legal proceedings is not reasonably possible, or that future material losses in excess of the amounts accrued are not reasonably possible.

A purported class-action complaint was filed against the Company, Donald E. Graham and Hal S. Jones on October 28, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by the Plumbers Local #200 Pension Fund. The complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its officers made materially false and misleading statements, or failed to disclose material facts relating to KHE, in violation of the U.S. Federal securities laws. The complaint sought damages, attorneys' fees, costs and equitable/injunctive relief. The Company moved to dismiss the complaint, and on December 23, 2011, the court granted the Company's motion and dismissed the case with prejudice. On January 25, 2012, the Plaintiff filed a motion seeking leave to amend or alter that final judgment, which the court granted in part on March 13, 2012 by allowing the Plaintiff to file an amended complaint. On May 11, 2012, the Company moved to dismiss the amended complaint. On March 19, 2013, the court granted the Company's motion and dismissed the case.

DOE Program Reviews. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) undertakes program reviews at Title IV participating institutions. Currently, there are four pending program reviews, including Kaplan University. In addition, the Company is awaiting the DOE's final report on the program review at KHE's Broomall, PA, location. In May 2012, the DOE issued a preliminary report on its 2009 onsite program review at Kaplan University containing several findings that required Kaplan University to conduct additional, detailed file reviews and submit additional data. In January 2013, Kaplan submitted a response to the DOE's data request and is awaiting a final report on this review. The Company does not expect the final program review report to have a material impact on KHE; however, the results of this and the other open reviews and their impact on Kaplan's operations are uncertain.

The 90/10 Rule. Under regulations referred to as the 90/10 rule, a KHE OPEID unit would lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs for a period of at least two fiscal years if it derives more than 90% of its receipts from Title IV programs, as calculated on a cash basis in accordance with the Higher Education Act and applicable DOE regulations, in each of two consecutive fiscal years, commencing with the unit's first fiscal year that ends after August 14, 2008. Any OPEID unit with Title IV receipts exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year ending after August 14, 2008, will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures. KHE is taking various measures to reduce the percentage of its receipts attributable to Title IV funds, including modifying student payment options; emphasizing direct-pay and employer-paid education programs; encouraging students to carefully evaluate the amount of their Title IV borrowing; eliminating some programs; cash-matching; and developing and offering additional non-Title IV-eligible certificate preparation, professional development and continuing education programs. Some of the other programs may currently be offered by other Kaplan businesses. Absent the adoption of the changes mentioned above, and if current trends continue, management estimates that in 2013, at least 17 of the KHE Campuses' OPEID units, representing approximately 19% of KHE's 2012 revenues, could have a 90/10 ratio over 90%. As noted above, Kaplan is taking steps to address compliance with the 90/10 rule; however, there can be no guarantee that these measures will be adequate to prevent the 90/10 rule calculations at some or all of the schools from exceeding 90% in the future.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

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+ Details

Business Segments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Business Segments [Abstract]

Business Segments [Text Block]

13. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has seven reportable segments: Kaplan Higher Education, Kaplan Test Preparation, Kaplan International, cable television, newspaper publishing, and television broadcasting and other businesses.

Education. Kaplan's Colloquy business moved from Kaplan International to Kaplan Corporate effective January 1, 2013. Segment operating results of the education division have been restated to reflect this change.

Newspaper Publishing. In March 2013, the Company completed the sale of The Herald, a daily and Sunday newspaper headquartered in Everett, WA. As a result, The Herald results are included in discontinued operations, net of tax, for all periods presented. The newspaper publishing segment operating results have been restated to reflect this change.

The following table summarizes the quarterly financial information related to each of the Company's business segments:

		March 31,		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	527,815	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
	Cable television		200,138		190,210		195,579		199,625		201,703
	Newspaper publishing		127,264		132,450		139,228		132,025		155,952
	Television broadcasting		85,270		81,497		95,591		106,411		116,192
	Other businesses		18,891		4,768		7,177		15,834		25,761
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
	Intersegment elimination		(273)		(109)		(246)		(397)		(125)
		$	959,105	$	955,501	$	989,103	$	1,005,194	$	1,045,824
Income (Loss) From Operations
	Education	$	(4,056)	$	(11,915)	$	3,728	$	14,693	$	(111,874)
	Cable television		36,613		32,777		38,446		39,913		43,445
	Newspaper publishing		(34,472)		(20,612)		(12,614)		(21,985)		3,180
	Television broadcasting		35,362		30,999		43,728		54,082		62,833
	Other businesses		(6,113)		(4,643)		(6,775)		(5,248)		(6,578)
	Corporate office		(4,274)		(5,308)		(3,492)		(5,694)		(4,884)
		$	23,060	$	21,298	$	63,021	$	75,761	$	(13,878)
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Affiliates, Net			3,418		3,888		3,314		4,099		2,785
Interest Expense, Net			(8,450)		(8,094)		(8,204)		(8,090)		(8,163)
Other (Expense) Income, Net			(4,083)		8,588		(635)		4,163		(17,572)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	13,945	$	25,680	$	57,496	$	75,933	$	(36,828)
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Education	$	22,588	$	20,717	$	21,011	$	22,024	$	37,431
	Cable television		33,733		32,197		32,234		32,310		32,366
	Newspaper publishing		6,015		5,885		5,934		5,932		5,993
	Television broadcasting		3,145		3,125		3,222		3,126		3,545
	Other businesses		310		―		―		5		258
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
		$	65,791	$	61,924	$	62,401	$	63,397	$	79,593
Amortization of Intangible Assets and
	Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
	Education	$	2,518	$	3,236	$	3,803	$	4,489	$	117,784
	Cable television		50		54		53		52		52
	Newspaper publishing		150		183		172		150		149
	Television broadcasting		―		―		―		―		―
	Other businesses		999		400		400		400		1,218
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
		$	3,717	$	3,873	$	4,428	$	5,091	$	119,203
Net Pension Expense (Credit)
	Education	$	4,106	$	2,392	$	1,969	$	3,522	$	3,701
	Cable television		882		530		514		694		802
	Newspaper publishing		22,929		8,540		7,717		16,140		8,954
	Television broadcasting		1,288		960		1,055		1,432		1,523
	Other businesses		76		10		10		18		22
	Corporate office		(10,666)		(9,298)		(8,896)		(9,021)		(8,982)
		$	18,615	$	3,134	$	2,369	$	12,785	$	6,020

The following table summarizes annual financial information related to each of the Company's business segments:

(in thousands)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
	Cable television		787,117		760,221
	Newspaper publishing		559,655		601,199
	Television broadcasting		399,691		319,206
	Other businesses		53,540		25,507
	Corporate office		―		―
	Intersegment elimination		(877)		(780)
		$	3,995,622	$	4,109,812
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Education	$	(105,368)	$	96,286
	Cable television		154,581		156,844
	Newspaper publishing		(52,031)		(16,764)
	Television broadcasting		191,642		117,089
	Other businesses		(23,244)		(8,735)
	Corporate office		(19,378)		(14,422)
		$	146,202	$	330,298
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, Net			14,086		5,949
Interest Expense, Net			(32,551)		(29,079)
Other Expense, Net			(5,456)		(55,200)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	122,281	$	251,968
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Education	$	101,183	$	83,735
	Cable television		129,107		126,302
	Newspaper publishing		23,744		24,921
	Television broadcasting		13,018		12,448
	Other businesses		263		―
	Corporate office		―		244
		$	267,315	$	247,650
Amortization of Intangible Assets and Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
	Education	$	129,312	$	19,417
	Cable television		211		267
	Newspaper publishing		654		1,051
	Television broadcasting		―		―
	Other businesses		2,418		1,600
	Corporate office		―		―
		$	132,595	$	22,335
Net Pension Expense (Credit)
	Education	$	11,584	$	6,345
	Cable television		2,540		1,924
	Newspaper publishing		41,351		22,614
	Television broadcasting		4,970		1,669
	Other businesses		60		17
	Corporate office		(36,197)		(36,983)
		$	24,308	$	(4,414)

Asset information for the Company's business segments are as follows:


			As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Identifiable Assets
	Education	$	1,727,078	$	1,988,015
	Cable television		1,181,320		1,187,603
	Newspaper publishing		255,574		280,323
	Television broadcasting		373,532		374,075
	Other businesses		64,215		81,211
	Corporate office		236,388		193,397
		$	3,838,107	$	4,104,624
Investments in Marketable Equity Securities			427,101		380,087
Investments in Affiliates			22,068		15,535
Prepaid Pension Cost			589,230		604,823
Total Assets		$	4,876,506	$	5,105,069

The following table summarizes the quarterly financial information related to the operating segments of the Company's education division:

		March 31,		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Higher education	$	271,860	$	308,384	$	290,861	$	273,703	$	276,459
	Test preparation		68,943		62,829		79,787		81,151		60,485
	Kaplan international		184,813		173,563		179,141		194,158		206,928
	Kaplan corporate and other		2,604		3,384		3,090		3,809		4,756
	Intersegment elimination		(405)		(1,475)		(1,105)		(1,125)		(2,287)
		$	527,815	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Higher education	$	5,101	$	8,959	$	5,860	$	1,510	$	10,916
	Test preparation		(4,345)		(10,219)		2,706		3,446		(6,732)
	Kaplan international		6,397		4,140		9,788		20,365		15,319
	Kaplan corporate and other		(11,340)		(14,989)		(14,787)		(10,852)		(131,844)
	Intersegment elimination		131		194		161		224		467
		$	(4,056)	$	(11,915)	$	3,728	$	14,693	$	(111,874)
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Higher education	$	13,439	$	11,757	$	11,673	$	12,168	$	22,916
	Test preparation		4,758		4,315		4,449		5,544		5,410
	Kaplan international		3,996		4,178		4,471		3,841		8,659
	Kaplan corporate and other		395		467		418		471		446
		$	22,588	$	20,717	$	21,011	$	22,024	$	37,431
Amortization of Intangible Assets		$	2,518	$	3,236	$	3,803	$	4,489	$	6,191
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets		$	―	$	―	$	―	$	―	$	111,593
Pension Expense
	Higher education	$	2,807	$	1,587	$	1,587	$	2,234	$	2,535
	Test preparation		640		413		414		554		626
	Kaplan international		87		12		(11)		112		76
	Kaplan corporate and other		572		380		(21)		622		464
		$	4,106	$	2,392	$	1,969	$	3,522	$	3,701

The following table summarizes annual financial information related to the reportable segments of the Company's education division segments:

(in thousands)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Higher education	$	1,149,407	$	1,399,583
	Test preparation		284,252		303,093
	Kaplan international		753,790		690,226
	Kaplan corporate and other		15,039		18,940
	Intersegment elimination		(5,992)		(7,383)
		$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Higher education	$	27,245	$	148,915
	Test preparation		(10,799)		(28,498)
	Kaplan international		49,612		46,498
	Kaplan corporate and other		(172,472)		(69,509)
	Intersegment elimination		1,046		(1,120)
		$	(105,368)	$	96,286
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Higher education	$	58,514	$	48,379
	Test preparation		19,718		15,489
	Kaplan international		21,149		16,746
	Kaplan corporate and other		1,802		3,121
		$	101,183	$	83,735
Amortization of Intangible Assets		$	17,719	$	19,417
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets		$	111,593	$	―
Pension Expense
	Higher education	$	7,943	$	4,249
	Test preparation		2,007		1,288
	Kaplan international		189		142
	Kaplan corporate and other		1,445		666
		$	11,584	$	6,345

Identifiable assets for the Company's education division consist of the following:


		As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Identifiable Assets
	Higher education	$	650,375	$	949,260
	Test preparation		198,639		197,672
	Kaplan international		840,187		818,613
	Kaplan corporate and other		37,877		22,470
		$	1,727,078	$	1,988,015

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8595-108599

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8933-108599

+ Details

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policy)	3 Months Ended
Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policy)	Mar. 31, 2013
Organization, Basis Of Presentation And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Financial Periods	Financial Periods – The Company and its subsidiaries report on a calendar-quarter basis, with the exception of most of the newspaper publishing operations, which report on a thirteen week quarter ending on the Sunday nearest the calendar quarter-end.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with: (i) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information; (ii) the instructions to Form 10-Q; and (iii) the guidance of Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for financial statements required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned or otherwise controlled by the Company. As permitted under such rules, certain notes and other financial information normally required by GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Management believes the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as of and for the periods presented herein. The Company's results of operations for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 may not be indicative of the Company's future results. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation, which includes the reclassification of the results of operations of certain businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported herein. Management bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for subsidiaries or other investments that are consolidated, including the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts or transactions and any noncontrolling interest.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

+ References + Details

Discontinued Operations (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Discontinued Operations [Abstract]

Summarized (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net Of Tax [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Operating revenues	$	3,461	$	23,171
Operating costs and expenses		(5,477)		(27,344)
Loss from discontinued operations		(2,016)		(4,173)
Benefit from income taxes		(676)		(23,700)
Net (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations		(1,340)		19,527
Loss on sale of discontinued operations		(70)		(3,082)
Benefit from income taxes on sale of discontinued operations		(24)		(1,143)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	$	(1,386)	$	17,588

2012 Quarterly Operating Results After Reclassifying Certain Operations As Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block]

		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
	Advertising		167,558		186,486		191,779		225,624
	Circulation and subscriber		213,677		217,747		219,137		220,732
	Other		27,581		33,096		42,582		53,127
			955,501		989,103		1,005,194		1,045,824
Operating Costs and Expenses
	Operating		460,300		461,788		480,731		463,626
	Selling, general and administrative		408,106		397,465		380,214		397,280
	Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		61,924		62,401		63,397		79,593
	Amortization of intangible assets		3,873		4,428		5,091		7,610
	Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		―		―		―		111,593
			934,203		926,082		929,433		1,059,702
Income (Loss) from Operations			21,298		63,021		75,761		(13,878)
	Equity in earnings of affiliates, net		3,888		3,314		4,099		2,785
	Interest income		1,069		775		648		901
	Interest expense		(9,163)		(8,979)		(8,738)		(9,064)
	Other income (expense), net		8,588		(635)		4,163		(17,572)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes			25,680		57,496		75,933		(36,828)
Provision for Income Taxes			11,700		21,200		31,100		8,200
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations			13,980		36,296		44,833		(45,028)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax			17,588		15,751		49,114		(347)
Net Income (Loss)			31,568		52,047		93,947		(45,375)
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			(70)		(11)		71		(64)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company			31,498		52,036		94,018		(45,439)
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends			(451)		(222)		(222)		―
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders	$	31,047	$	51,814	$	93,796	$	(45,439)
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	13,459	$	36,063	$	44,682	$	(45,092)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			17,588		15,751		49,114		(347)
Net income (loss) attributable to the Washington Post
	Company common stockholders	$	31,047	$	51,814	$	93,796	$	(45,439)
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post
	Company Common Stockholders
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations		$	1.72	$	4.76	$	6.02	$	(6.52)
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			2.35		2.08		6.62		(0.05)
Basic net income (loss) per common share		$	4.07	$	6.84	$	12.64	$	(6.57)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations		$	1.72	$	4.76	$	6.02	$	(6.52)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			2.35		2.08		6.62		(0.05)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share		$	4.07	$	6.84	$	12.64	$	(6.57)

Yearly Operating Results After Reclassifying Certain Operations As Discontinued Operations [Table Text Block]

(in thousands, except per share amounts)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
	Advertising		771,447		738,489
	Circulation and subscriber		871,293		852,891
	Other		156,386		113,973
			3,995,622		4,109,812
Operating Costs and Expenses
	Operating		1,866,445		1,891,888
	Selling, general and administrative		1,583,065		1,617,641
	Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		267,315		247,650
	Amortization of intangible assets		21,002		22,335
	Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593		―
			3,849,420		3,779,514
Income from Operations			146,202		330,298
	Equity in earnings of affiliates, net		14,086		5,949
	Interest income		3,393		4,147
	Interest expense		(35,944)		(33,226)
	Other expense, net		(5,456)		(55,200)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes			122,281		251,968
Provision for Income Taxes			72,200		103,500
Income from Continuing Operations			50,081		148,468
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax			82,106		(31,311)
Net Income			132,187		117,157
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			(74)		(7)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company			132,113		117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends			(895)		(917)
Net Income Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders		$	131,218	$	116,233
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations		$	49,112	$	147,544
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			82,106		(31,311)
Net income attributable to the Washington Post Company common stockholders		$	131,218	$	116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common
	Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations		$	6.23	$	18.66
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			11.16		(3.96)
Basic net income per common share		$	17.39	$	14.70
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations		$	6.23	$	18.66
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations			11.16		(3.96)
Diluted net income per common share		$	17.39	$	14.70

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of disposal groups, which may include the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), amounts of revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the classification and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group, and the segment in which the disposal group was reported. Also may include the amount of adjustments to amounts previously reported in discontinued operations such as resolution of contingencies arising from the disposal transaction or the operations of the component prior to disposal.

+ References + Details

Investments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Investments [Abstract]

Investments in Marketable Equity Securities [Table Text Block]

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Total cost	$	194,319	$	195,832
Net unrealized gains		232,782		184,255
Total Fair Value	$	427,101	$	380,087

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

				Cable		Newspaper		Television		Other
(in thousands)		Education		Television		Publishing		Broadcasting		Businesses		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012
	Goodwill	$	1,097,058	$	85,488	$	81,183	$	203,165	$	19,052	$	1,485,946
	Accumulated impairment losses		(102,259)		―		(65,772)		―		―		(168,031)
			994,799		85,488		15,411		203,165		19,052		1,317,915
Acquisitions			―		―		―		―		627		627
Foreign currency exchange rate changes			(8,879)		―		―		―		―		(8,879)
Balance as of March 31, 2013
	Goodwill		1,088,179		85,488		71,448		203,165		19,679		1,467,959
	Accumulated impairment losses		(102,259)		―		(56,037)		―		―		(158,296)
		$	985,920	$	85,488	$	15,411	$	203,165	$	19,679	$	1,309,663

Other Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

			As of March 31, 2013						As of December 31, 2012
			Gross				Net		Gross				Net
		Useful Life	Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying		Carrying		Accumulated		Carrying
(in thousands)		Range	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amount		Amortization		Amount
Amortized Intangible Assets
	Non-compete agreements	2-5 years	$	13,849	$	12,670	$	1,179	$	14,008	$	12,546	$	1,462
	Student and customer relationships	2-10 years		73,457		42,651		30,806		73,693		40,787		32,906
	Databases and technology	3-5 years		6,457		6,082		375		6,457		5,707		750
	Trade names and trademarks	2-10 years		26,372		18,364		8,008		26,634		18,185		8,449
	Other	1-25 years		8,872		7,187		1,685		8,849		6,839		2,010
			$	129,007	$	86,954	$	42,053	$	129,641	$	84,064	$	45,577
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	Franchise agreements		$	496,321					$	496,321
	Wireless licenses			22,150						22,150
	Licensure and accreditation			7,371						7,371
	Other			13,886						13,886
			$	539,728					$	539,728

Education [Member]

Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

		Higher		Test		Kaplan
(in thousands)		Education		Preparation		International		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2012
	Goodwill	$	409,184	$	152,187	$	535,687	$	1,097,058
	Accumulated impairment losses		―		(102,259)		―		(102,259)
			409,184		49,928		535,687		994,799
Foreign currency exchange rate changes			(50)		―		(8,829)		(8,879)
Balance as of March 31, 2013
	Goodwill		409,134		152,187		526,858		1,088,179
	Accumulated impairment losses		―		(102,259)		―		(102,259)
		$	409,134	$	49,928	$	526,858	$	985,920

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total. Disclosure details may include, but are not limited to, the carrying amount of goodwill, goodwill acquired during the year, goodwill impairment losses recognized, goodwill written-off due to the sale of a business unit, goodwill not yet allocated, and any other changes to goodwill.

+ References + Details

Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Debt [Abstract]

Components of Debt [Table Text Block]

	As of
	March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
7.25% unsecured notes due February 1, 2019	$	397,583	$	397,479
USD Revolving credit borrowing		―		240,121
AUD Revolving credit borrowing		52,082		51,915
Other indebtedness		7,230		7,196
Total Debt		456,895		696,711
Less: current portion		(3,169)		(243,327)
Total Long-Term Debt	$	453,726	$	453,384

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of long-debt instruments or arrangements, including identification, terms, features, collateral requirements and other information necessary to a fair presentation. These are debt arrangements that originally required repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the entity, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21538-112644

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e),(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Summary of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

(in thousands)			Level 1		Level 2		Total
As of March 31, 2013
Assets
	Money market investments (1)		$	―	$	190,915	$	190,915
	Marketable equity securities (2)			427,101		―		427,101
	Other current investments (3)			14,495		28,427		42,922
		Total Financial Assets	$	441,596	$	219,342	$	660,938

Liabilities
	Deferred compensation plan liabilities (4)		$	―	$	60,919	$	60,919
	7.25% unsecured notes (5)			―		471,528		471,528
	AUD revolving credit borrowing (5)			―		52,082		52,082
	Interest rate swap (6)			―		1,537		1,537
		Total Financial Liabilities	$	―	$	586,066	$	586,066

As of December 31, 2012
Assets
	Money market investments (1)		$	―	$	432,670	$	432,670
	Marketable equity securities (2)			380,087		―		380,087
	Other current investments (3)			14,134		24,717		38,851
		Total Financial Assets	$	394,221	$	457,387	$	851,608

Liabilities
	Deferred compensation plan liabilities (4)		$	―	$	62,297	$	62,297
	7.25% unsecured notes (5)			―		481,424		481,424
	AUD revolving credit borrowing (5)			―		51,915		51,915
	Interest rate swap (6)			―		1,567		1,567
		Total Financial Liabilities	$	―	$	597,203	$	597,203

____________

(1) The Company's money market investments are included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash.

(2) The Company's investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale.

(3) Includes U.S. Government Securities, corporate bonds, mutual funds and time deposits (with original maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year).

(5) See Note 6 for carrying amount of these notes and borrowing.

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Summary of Earnings Per Share from Continuing Operations, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)			2013		2012
Income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	6,104	$	13,459
Less: Amount attributable to participating securities				(160)		(501)
Basic income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	5,944	$	12,958

Plus: Amount attributable to participating securities				160		501
Diluted income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company
	common stockholders		$	6,104	$	13,459

Basic weighted average shares outstanding				7,227		7,514
Plus: Effect of dilutive shares related to stock options and restricted stock				39		101
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				7,266		7,615

Income Per Share from Continuing Operations Attributable to The Washington Post Company
	Common Stockholders:
		Basic	$	0.82	$	1.72
		Diluted	$	0.82	$	1.72

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Defined Benefit Plans [Member]

Summary of Net (Benefit) Costs [Table Text Block]

					Supplemental Executive
	Pension Plan				Retirement Plan
	Three Months Ended March 31,				Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012		2013		2012
Service cost	$	13,365	$	9,107	$	429	$	367
Interest cost		14,291		14,591		1,023		1,060
Expected return on assets		(26,322)		(24,012)		―		―
Amortization of prior service cost		909		937		14		14
Recognized actuarial loss		2,147		1,569		711		458
Net Periodic Cost		4,390		2,192		2,177		1,899
Early retirement program expense		14,258		1,022		―		―
Total Cost	$	18,648	$	3,214	$	2,177	$	1,899

Pension Plans [Member]

Allocation of the Assets of the Company's Pension Plans [Table Text Block]

	As of
	March 31,			December 31,
	2013			2012
U.S. equities		64	%		64	%
U.S. fixed income		11	%		13	%
International equities		25	%		23	%
		100	%		100	%

Other Postretirement Plans [Member]

Summary of Net (Benefit) Costs [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(in thousands)	2013		2012
Service cost	$	727	$	778
Interest cost		510		684
Amortization of prior service credit		(1,360)		(1,402)
Recognized actuarial gain		(541)		(370)
Net Periodic Benefit		(664)		(310)
Settlement gain		(3,471)		―
Total Periodic Benefit	$	(4,135)	$	(310)

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Abstract]

Summary of Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Table Text Block]

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Foreign currency (losses) gains, net		$	(4,614)	$	2,660
(Losses) gains on sales or write-downs of cost method investments			(179)		5,766
Other, net			710		162
	Total Other Non-Operating (Expense) Income	$	(4,083)	$	8,588

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]

Summary of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

			For the Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2013							2012
			Before-Tax		Income		After-Tax		Before-Tax		Income		After-Tax
(in thousands)			Amount		Tax		Amount		Amount		Tax		Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
	Translation adjustments arising during the period		$	(4,191)	$	―	$	(4,191)	$	7,823	$	―	$	7,823
	Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations			―		―		―		513		―		513
				(4,191)		―		(4,191)		8,336		―		8,336
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains for the period			49,078		(19,631)		29,447		32,315		(12,925)		19,390
	Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale
		security included in net income		(551)		220		(331)		―		―		―
				48,527		(19,411)		29,116		32,315		(12,925)		19,390
Pension and other postretirement plans:
	Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income			(437)		175		(262)		(451)		180		(271)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income			2,317		(927)		1,390		1,657		(662)		995
	Settlement gain included in net income			(3,471)		1,388		(2,083)		―		―		―
				(1,591)		636		(955)		1,206		(482)		724
Cash flow hedge:
	Gain (loss) for the period			30		(12)		18		(35)		14		(21)
Other Comprehensive Income			$	42,775	$	(18,787)	$	23,988	$	41,822	$	(13,393)	$	28,429

Summary of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

			Cumulative				Unrealized Gain
			Foreign				on Pensions				Accumulated
			Currency		Unrealized Gain		and Other				Other
			Translation		on Available-for-		Postretirement		Cash Flow		Comprehensive
(in thousands, net of taxes)			Adjustment		Sale Securities		Plans		Hedge		Income
Balance as of December 31, 2012			$	26,072	$	110,553	$	117,169	$	(940)	$	252,854
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before
		reclassifications		(4,191)		29,447		―		(94)		25,162
	Net amount reclassified from accumulated
		other comprehensive income		―		(331)		(955)		112		(1,174)
	Net other comprehensive income (loss)			(4,191)		29,116		(955)		18		23,988
Balance as of March 31, 2013			$	21,881	$	139,669	$	116,214	$	(922)	$	276,842

Summary of Amounts and Line Items of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2013
		Amount Reclassified from
		Accumulated Other		Affected Line Item in the Condensed
(in thousands)		Comprehensive Income		Consolidated Statement of Operations
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-sale Securities:
	Realized gains for the period	$	(551)	Other (Expense) Income, net
			220	Provision for Income Taxes
			(331)	Net of Tax
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
	Amortization of net prior service credit		(437)	(1)
	Amortization of net actuarial loss		2,317	(1)
	Settlement gain		(3,471)	(1)
			(1,591)	Before tax
			636	Provision for Income Taxes
			(955)	Net of Tax
Cash Flow Hedge
			186	Interest Expense
			(74)	Provision for Income Taxes
			112	Net of Tax
Total reclassification for the period		$	(1,174)	Net of Tax

____________

(1) These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 9).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for any adjustments made during the period to avoid double counting in comprehensive income items displayed as part of net income that also had been displayed as part of other comprehensive income in that period or earlier periods. These adjustments include reclassifications to net income of items in accumulated comprehensive income, such as deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges when hedged item reported in net income, holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities transferred into trading category, unrealized holding gains or losses on debt securities transferred from held-to-maturity category into available-for-sale category and accumulated translation adjustment attributable to foreign subsidiary or investment in foreign entity upon sale or liquidation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 18, 19, 20, 21
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Reclassification Adjustments
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6522872

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920043&loc=d3e716-108580

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920043&loc=d3e689-108580

+ Details

Business Segments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Summary of Segment Reporting Information, by Operating Segment [Table Text Block]

		March 31,		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	527,815	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
	Cable television		200,138		190,210		195,579		199,625		201,703
	Newspaper publishing		127,264		132,450		139,228		132,025		155,952
	Television broadcasting		85,270		81,497		95,591		106,411		116,192
	Other businesses		18,891		4,768		7,177		15,834		25,761
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
	Intersegment elimination		(273)		(109)		(246)		(397)		(125)
		$	959,105	$	955,501	$	989,103	$	1,005,194	$	1,045,824
Income (Loss) From Operations
	Education	$	(4,056)	$	(11,915)	$	3,728	$	14,693	$	(111,874)
	Cable television		36,613		32,777		38,446		39,913		43,445
	Newspaper publishing		(34,472)		(20,612)		(12,614)		(21,985)		3,180
	Television broadcasting		35,362		30,999		43,728		54,082		62,833
	Other businesses		(6,113)		(4,643)		(6,775)		(5,248)		(6,578)
	Corporate office		(4,274)		(5,308)		(3,492)		(5,694)		(4,884)
		$	23,060	$	21,298	$	63,021	$	75,761	$	(13,878)
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Affiliates, Net			3,418		3,888		3,314		4,099		2,785
Interest Expense, Net			(8,450)		(8,094)		(8,204)		(8,090)		(8,163)
Other (Expense) Income, Net			(4,083)		8,588		(635)		4,163		(17,572)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	13,945	$	25,680	$	57,496	$	75,933	$	(36,828)
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Education	$	22,588	$	20,717	$	21,011	$	22,024	$	37,431
	Cable television		33,733		32,197		32,234		32,310		32,366
	Newspaper publishing		6,015		5,885		5,934		5,932		5,993
	Television broadcasting		3,145		3,125		3,222		3,126		3,545
	Other businesses		310		―		―		5		258
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
		$	65,791	$	61,924	$	62,401	$	63,397	$	79,593
Amortization of Intangible Assets and
	Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
	Education	$	2,518	$	3,236	$	3,803	$	4,489	$	117,784
	Cable television		50		54		53		52		52
	Newspaper publishing		150		183		172		150		149
	Television broadcasting		―		―		―		―		―
	Other businesses		999		400		400		400		1,218
	Corporate office		―		―		―		―		―
		$	3,717	$	3,873	$	4,428	$	5,091	$	119,203
Net Pension Expense (Credit)
	Education	$	4,106	$	2,392	$	1,969	$	3,522	$	3,701
	Cable television		882		530		514		694		802
	Newspaper publishing		22,929		8,540		7,717		16,140		8,954
	Television broadcasting		1,288		960		1,055		1,432		1,523
	Other businesses		76		10		10		18		22
	Corporate office		(10,666)		(9,298)		(8,896)		(9,021)		(8,982)
		$	18,615	$	3,134	$	2,369	$	12,785	$	6,020

(in thousands)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Education	$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
	Cable television		787,117		760,221
	Newspaper publishing		559,655		601,199
	Television broadcasting		399,691		319,206
	Other businesses		53,540		25,507
	Corporate office		―		―
	Intersegment elimination		(877)		(780)
		$	3,995,622	$	4,109,812
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Education	$	(105,368)	$	96,286
	Cable television		154,581		156,844
	Newspaper publishing		(52,031)		(16,764)
	Television broadcasting		191,642		117,089
	Other businesses		(23,244)		(8,735)
	Corporate office		(19,378)		(14,422)
		$	146,202	$	330,298
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates, Net			14,086		5,949
Interest Expense, Net			(32,551)		(29,079)
Other Expense, Net			(5,456)		(55,200)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		$	122,281	$	251,968
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Education	$	101,183	$	83,735
	Cable television		129,107		126,302
	Newspaper publishing		23,744		24,921
	Television broadcasting		13,018		12,448
	Other businesses		263		―
	Corporate office		―		244
		$	267,315	$	247,650
Amortization of Intangible Assets and Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
	Education	$	129,312	$	19,417
	Cable television		211		267
	Newspaper publishing		654		1,051
	Television broadcasting		―		―
	Other businesses		2,418		1,600
	Corporate office		―		―
		$	132,595	$	22,335
Net Pension Expense (Credit)
	Education	$	11,584	$	6,345
	Cable television		2,540		1,924
	Newspaper publishing		41,351		22,614
	Television broadcasting		4,970		1,669
	Other businesses		60		17
	Corporate office		(36,197)		(36,983)
		$	24,308	$	(4,414)


			As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Identifiable Assets
	Education	$	1,727,078	$	1,988,015
	Cable television		1,181,320		1,187,603
	Newspaper publishing		255,574		280,323
	Television broadcasting		373,532		374,075
	Other businesses		64,215		81,211
	Corporate office		236,388		193,397
		$	3,838,107	$	4,104,624
Investments in Marketable Equity Securities			427,101		380,087
Investments in Affiliates			22,068		15,535
Prepaid Pension Cost			589,230		604,823
Total Assets		$	4,876,506	$	5,105,069

Education [Member]

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Summary of Segment Reporting Information, by Operating Segment [Table Text Block]

		March 31,		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012		2012		2012		2012
Operating Revenues
	Higher education	$	271,860	$	308,384	$	290,861	$	273,703	$	276,459
	Test preparation		68,943		62,829		79,787		81,151		60,485
	Kaplan international		184,813		173,563		179,141		194,158		206,928
	Kaplan corporate and other		2,604		3,384		3,090		3,809		4,756
	Intersegment elimination		(405)		(1,475)		(1,105)		(1,125)		(2,287)
		$	527,815	$	546,685	$	551,774	$	551,696	$	546,341
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Higher education	$	5,101	$	8,959	$	5,860	$	1,510	$	10,916
	Test preparation		(4,345)		(10,219)		2,706		3,446		(6,732)
	Kaplan international		6,397		4,140		9,788		20,365		15,319
	Kaplan corporate and other		(11,340)		(14,989)		(14,787)		(10,852)		(131,844)
	Intersegment elimination		131		194		161		224		467
		$	(4,056)	$	(11,915)	$	3,728	$	14,693	$	(111,874)
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Higher education	$	13,439	$	11,757	$	11,673	$	12,168	$	22,916
	Test preparation		4,758		4,315		4,449		5,544		5,410
	Kaplan international		3,996		4,178		4,471		3,841		8,659
	Kaplan corporate and other		395		467		418		471		446
		$	22,588	$	20,717	$	21,011	$	22,024	$	37,431
Amortization of Intangible Assets		$	2,518	$	3,236	$	3,803	$	4,489	$	6,191
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets		$	―	$	―	$	―	$	―	$	111,593
Pension Expense
	Higher education	$	2,807	$	1,587	$	1,587	$	2,234	$	2,535
	Test preparation		640		413		414		554		626
	Kaplan international		87		12		(11)		112		76
	Kaplan corporate and other		572		380		(21)		622		464
		$	4,106	$	2,392	$	1,969	$	3,522	$	3,701

(in thousands)		2012		2011
Operating Revenues
	Higher education	$	1,149,407	$	1,399,583
	Test preparation		284,252		303,093
	Kaplan international		753,790		690,226
	Kaplan corporate and other		15,039		18,940
	Intersegment elimination		(5,992)		(7,383)
		$	2,196,496	$	2,404,459
Income (Loss) from Operations
	Higher education	$	27,245	$	148,915
	Test preparation		(10,799)		(28,498)
	Kaplan international		49,612		46,498
	Kaplan corporate and other		(172,472)		(69,509)
	Intersegment elimination		1,046		(1,120)
		$	(105,368)	$	96,286
Depreciation of Property, Plant and Equipment
	Higher education	$	58,514	$	48,379
	Test preparation		19,718		15,489
	Kaplan international		21,149		16,746
	Kaplan corporate and other		1,802		3,121
		$	101,183	$	83,735
Amortization of Intangible Assets		$	17,719	$	19,417
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets		$	111,593	$	―
Pension Expense
	Higher education	$	7,943	$	4,249
	Test preparation		2,007		1,288
	Kaplan international		189		142
	Kaplan corporate and other		1,445		666
		$	11,584	$	6,345


		As of
		March 31,		December 31,
(in thousands)		2013		2012
Identifiable Assets
	Higher education	$	650,375	$	949,260
	Test preparation		198,639		197,672
	Kaplan international		840,187		818,613
	Kaplan corporate and other		37,877		22,470
		$	1,727,078	$	1,988,015

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the profit or loss and total assets for each reportable segment. An entity discloses certain information on each reportable segment if the amounts (a) are included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) are otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

+ References + Details

Organization, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Narrative) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2013 televisionstations
Percentage of ownership indicating control for consolidation purposes	more than 50%
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Number of television broadcast stations	6

Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition				$ (70)			$ (3,082)
Sale of Kaplan Learning Technologies [Member] \| Education [Member]
After-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition			$ (1,900)
Sale of Kaplan EduNeering [Member] \| Education [Member]
After-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition						$ 18,500
Sales of Kaplan EduNeering and Kaplan Learning Technologies [Member] \| Education [Member]
Income tax benefits in connection with sales and/or dispositions of businesses							$ 23,200
Sale of Kidum [Member] \| Education [Member]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition		$ 3,600
After-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition		$ 10,200
Disposition of Avenue 100 Media Solutions Inc. [Member] \| Other Businesses [Member]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale and/or disposition	$ (5,700)
Income tax benefits in connection with sales and/or dispositions of businesses					$ 44,500

Discontinued Operations (Summarized (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net Of Tax) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 3,461				$ 23,171
Operating costs and expenses	(5,477)				(27,344)
Loss from discontinued operations	(2,016)				(4,173)
Benefit from income taxes	(676)				(23,700)
Net (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations	(1,340)				19,527
Loss on sale of discontinued operations	(70)				(3,082)
Benefit from income taxes on sale of discontinued operations	(24)				(1,143)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	$ (1,386)	$ (347)	$ 49,114	$ 15,751	$ 17,588	$ 82,106	$ (31,311)

- Definition

Pretax gain (loss), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Income tax expense or benefit attributable to Income or Loss from discontinued operations during the phase-out period.

+ References + Details

- Definition

Tax expense or benefit on the gain (loss), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

+ References + Details

- Definition

This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items before deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 43
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 47
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 15

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 13
-Article 7

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.14)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Discontinued Operations (Operating Results After Reclassifying Certain Operations As Discontinued Operations) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 527,815	$ 546,341	$ 551,696	$ 551,774	$ 546,685	$ 2,196,496	$ 2,404,459
Advertising	163,148	225,624	191,779	186,486	167,558	771,447	738,489
Circulation and subscriber	221,709	220,732	219,137	217,747	213,677	871,293	852,891
Other	46,433	53,127	42,582	33,096	27,581	156,386	113,973
Total operating revenues	959,105	1,045,824	1,005,194	989,103	955,501	3,995,622	4,109,812
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	451,981	463,626	480,731	461,788	460,300	1,866,445	1,891,888
Selling, general and administrative	414,556	397,280	380,214	397,465	408,106	1,583,065	1,617,641
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	65,791	79,593	63,397	62,401	61,924	267,315	247,650
Amortization of intangible assets	3,717	7,610	5,091	4,428	3,873	21,002	22,335
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593	0	0	0	111,593	0
Total operating costs and expenses	936,045	1,059,702	929,433	926,082	934,203	3,849,420	3,779,514
Income (Loss) from Operations	23,060	(13,878)	75,761	63,021	21,298	146,202	330,298
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	3,418	2,785	4,099	3,314	3,888	14,086	5,949
Interest income	510	901	648	775	1,069	3,393	4,147
Interest expense	(8,960)	(9,064)	(8,738)	(8,979)	(9,163)	(35,944)	(33,226)
Other income (expense), net	(4,083)	(17,572)	4,163	(635)	8,588	(5,456)	(55,200)
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	13,945	(36,828)	75,933	57,496	25,680	122,281	251,968
Provision for Income Taxes	7,300	8,200	31,100	21,200	11,700	72,200	103,500
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	6,645	(45,028)	44,833	36,296	13,980	50,081	148,468
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net Income (Loss)	5,259	(45,375)	93,947	52,047	31,568	132,187	117,157
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(97)	(64)	71	(11)	(70)	(74)	(7)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company	5,162	(45,439)	94,018	52,036	31,498	132,113	117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(444)	0	(222)	(222)	(451)	(895)	(917)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	4,718	(45,439)	93,796	51,814	31,047	131,218	116,233
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income (loss) from continuing operations	6,104	(45,092)	44,682	36,063	13,459	49,112	147,544
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	$ 4,718	$ (45,439)	$ 93,796	$ 51,814	$ 31,047	$ 131,218	$ 116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	$ 0.82	$ (6.52)	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 1.72	$ 6.23	$ 18.66
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	0.64	(6.57)	12.64	6.84	4.07	17.39	14.70
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	0.82	(6.52)	6.02	4.76	1.72	6.23	18.66
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$ 0.64	$ (6.57)	$ 12.64	$ 6.84	$ 4.07	$ 17.39	$ 14.70

Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($) investment	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Investments in marketable equity securities		$ 0	$ 30,000
Proceeds from sales of marketable equity securities		2,100
Gain on sales of marketable equity securities		600
Sales of marketable equity securties \| investment			0
Portion of Q1 investments in marketable equity securities that settled in Q2	$ 7,700
Company's investments in marketable equity securities		427,101		$ 380,087
Unrealized loss on investment		232,782		$ 184,255
Strayer Education Inc. [Member]
Unrealized loss on investment		$ (3,700)

- Definition

Equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold within one year from the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 3
-Section A
-Paragraph 4, 5
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13, 17
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379932&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26626-111562

+ Details

Investments (Investments in Marketable Equity Securities) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments [Abstract]
Total cost	$ 194,319	$ 195,832
Net unrealized gains	232,782	184,255
Total Fair Value	$ 427,101	$ 380,087

- Definition

Equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold within one year from the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer.

+ References

+ Details

Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, net	$ 372,466	$ 399,204
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 444,972	$ 486,396

Property, Plant and Equipment (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	$ 65,791	$ 79,593	$ 63,397	$ 62,401	$ 61,924	$ 267,315	$ 247,650

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 1,045,670	$ 1,081,237

Acquisitions and Dispositions (Narrative) (Details) - business	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Kaplan International [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired		2
Other Businesses [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses acquired	1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 3,717	$ 7,610	$ 5,091	$ 4,428	$ 3,873	$ 21,002	$ 22,335
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, remainder of 2013	9,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, 2014	9,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, 2015	7,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, 2016	6,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, 2017	4,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, 2018	4,000
Estimated amortization of intangible assets, after 2018	$ 3,000

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,485,946
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(168,031)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,317,915
Acquisitions	627
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(8,879)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,467,959
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(158,296)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,309,663
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,097,058
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	994,799
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(8,879)
Goodwill, ending balance	1,088,179
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	985,920
Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	409,184
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	409,184
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(50)
Goodwill, ending balance	409,134
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	409,134
Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	49,928
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(102,259)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	49,928
Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	535,687
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	535,687
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	(8,829)
Goodwill, ending balance	526,858
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	526,858
Cable Television [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,411
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	71,448
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(56,037)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	15,411
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	203,165
Acquisitions	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	203,165
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	19,052
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	19,052
Acquisitions	627
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0
Goodwill, ending balance	19,679
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 19,679

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Other Intangible Assets) (Details) 2 $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($) year	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) year
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 129,007	$ 129,641
Accumulated Amortization	86,954	84,064
Net Carrying Amount	42,053	45,577
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	539,728	539,728
Franchise Agreements [Member]
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	496,321	496,321
Wireless Licenses [Member]
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	22,150	22,150
Licensure and Accreditation [Member]
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	7,371	7,371
Other [Member]
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 13,886	$ 13,886
Non-compete Agreements [Member]
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful Life, minimum (in years) \| year	2	2
Useful Life, maximum (in years) \| year	5	5
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 13,849	$ 14,008
Accumulated Amortization	12,670	12,546
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,179	$ 1,462
Student and Customer Relationships [Member]
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful Life, minimum (in years) \| year	2	2
Useful Life, maximum (in years) \| year	10	10
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 73,457	$ 73,693
Accumulated Amortization	42,651	40,787
Net Carrying Amount	$ 30,806	$ 32,906
Databases and Technology [Member]
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful Life, minimum (in years) \| year	3	3
Useful Life, maximum (in years) \| year	5	5
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 6,457	$ 6,457
Accumulated Amortization	6,082	5,707
Net Carrying Amount	$ 375	$ 750
Trade Names and Trademarks [Member]
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful Life, minimum (in years) \| year	2	2
Useful Life, maximum (in years) \| year	10	10
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 26,372	$ 26,634
Accumulated Amortization	18,364	18,185
Net Carrying Amount	$ 8,008	$ 8,449
Other [Member]
Amortized intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful Life, minimum (in years) \| year	1	1
Useful Life, maximum (in years) \| year	25	25
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 8,872	$ 8,849
Accumulated Amortization	7,187	6,839
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1,685	$ 2,010

Income Taxes (Income from Operations) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income (Loss) from Operations before Extraordinary Items [Abstract]
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	$ 13,945	$ (36,828)	$ 75,933	$ 57,496	$ 25,680	$ 122,281	$ 251,968

Income Taxes (Provision for Income Taxes Components) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Provision for income taxes on income from continuing operations [Abstract]
Total provision for income tax	$ 7,300	$ 8,200	$ 31,100	$ 21,200	$ 11,700	$ 72,200	$ 103,500

Income Taxes (Income Tax Reconciliation) (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Reconciliation [Line Items]
Total provision for income tax	$ 7,300	$ 8,200	$ 31,100	$ 21,200	$ 11,700	$ 72,200	$ 103,500

Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average borrowings outstanding	$ 516,700	$ 484,500
Weighted average interest rate of borrowings	7.00%	7.00%
Net interest expense incurred	$ 8,500	$ 8,100
Carrying value of debt instrument	397,583		$ 397,479
7.25% Unsecured Notes due February 1, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of debt instrument	471,500		481,400
Carrying value of debt instrument	397,600		397,500
AUD $50 million portion of Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowings outstanding	52,082		51,915
USD $450 million portion of Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowings outstanding	$ 0		$ 240,121
Other Indebtedness [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Minimum interest rate	0.00%		0.00%
Maximum interest rate	6.00%		6.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity year, start	2013		2013
Debt Instrument, Maturity year, end	2017		2017

Debt (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
7.25% unsecured notes due February 1, 2019	$ 397,583	$ 397,479
Other indebtedness	7,230	7,196
Total Debt	456,895	696,711
Less: current portion	(3,169)	(243,327)
Total Long-Term Debt	453,726	453,384
USD [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit borrowing	0	240,121
AUD [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit borrowing	$ 52,082	$ 51,915

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	$ 111,593	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 111,593	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Assets

Marketable equity securities

$ 427,101

$ 380,087

7.25% Unsecured Notes due February 1, 2019 [Member]

Liabilities:

7.25% unsecured notes

471,500

481,400

Level 1 [Member]

Assets

Money market investments

^[1]

Marketable equity securities

^[2]

427,101

380,087

Other current investments

^[3]

14,495

14,134

Total Financial Assets

441,596

394,221

Liabilities:

Deferred compensation plan liabilities

^[4]

7.25% unsecured notes

^[5]

AUD Revolving credit borrowing

^[5]

Interest rate swap

^[6]

Total Financial Liabilities

Level 2 [Member]

Assets

Money market investments

^[1]

190,915

432,670

Marketable equity securities

^[2]

Other current investments

^[3]

28,427

24,717

Total Financial Assets

219,342

457,387

Liabilities:

Deferred compensation plan liabilities

^[4]

60,919

62,297

7.25% unsecured notes

^[5]

471,528

481,424

AUD Revolving credit borrowing

^[5]

52,082

51,915

Interest rate swap

^[6]

1,537

1,567

Total Financial Liabilities

586,066

597,203

Total [Member]

Assets

Money market investments

^[1]

190,915

432,670

Marketable equity securities

^[2]

427,101

380,087

Other current investments

^[3]

42,922

38,851

Total Financial Assets

660,938

851,608

Liabilities:

Deferred compensation plan liabilities

^[4]

60,919

62,297

7.25% unsecured notes

^[5]

471,528

481,424

AUD Revolving credit borrowing

^[5]

52,082

51,915

Interest rate swap

^[6]

1,537

1,567

Total Financial Liabilities

$ 586,066

$ 597,203

[1]	The Company’s money market investments are included in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash.
[2]	The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are classified as available-for-sale.
[3]	Includes U.S. Government Securities, corporate bonds, mutual funds and time deposits (with original maturities greater than 90 days, but less than one year).
[4]	Includes The Washington Post Company Deferred Compensation Plan and supplemental savings plan benefits under The Washington Post Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, which are included in accrued compensation and related benefits.
[5]	See Note 6 for carrying amount of these notes and borrowing.
[6]	Included in Other liabilities. The Company utilized a market approach model using the notional amount of the interest rate swap multiplied by the observable inputs of time to maturity and market interest rates.

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Cost of shares repurchased by company		$ 4,196	$ 136
Dividends declared per common share			$ 4.90
Accelerated dividends in lieu of regular quarterly dividends in 2013 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividends declared per common share	$ 9.80
Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities, shares		85,860.6666666667	115,294
Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities, shares		52,200	7,500

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 6,104	$ (45,092)	$ 44,682	$ 36,063	$ 13,459	$ 49,112	$ 147,544
Less: Amount attributable to participating securities	(160)				(501)
Basic income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	5,944				12,958
Plus: Amount attributable to participating securities	160				501
Diluted income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 6,104				$ 13,459
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	7,227				7,514
Plus: Effect of dilutive shares related to stock options and restricted stock	39				101
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	7,266				7,615
Income Per Share From Continuing Operations To Common Stockholders [Abstract]
Basic	$ 0.82	$ (6.52)	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 1.72	$ 6.23	$ 18.66
Diluted	$ 0.82	$ (6.52)	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 1.72	$ 6.23	$ 18.66

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($) country companies	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) country companies
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense	$ 14,258	$ 1,022
Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense	$ 14,258	1,022
Number of investment companies actively managing plan assets \| companies	2
Amount of plan assets managed internally by the company	None
Pension Plans [Member] \| Washington Post Newspaper [Member] \| Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense	$ 12,000
Pension Plans [Member] \| Washington Post Newspaper [Member] \| Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program [Member] \| Estimate [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense			$ 20,400
Pension Plans [Member] \| Washington Post Newspaper [Member] \| special separation benefits [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense	2,300
Pension Plans [Member] \| Post-Newsweek Media [Member] \| Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense		1,000
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Early retirement program expense	0	0
Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement gain	(3,471)	$ 0
Other Postretirement Plans [Member] \| Daily Herald [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement gain	$ (3,500)
Berkshire Hathaway Common Stock [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target allocation maximum percentage of assets, singular equity security, without prior approval by plan administrator	20.00%
Value of investments	$ 209,700			$ 179,900
Foreign Investments [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target allocation maximum percentage of assets, equity securities	24.00%
Single Equity Concentration [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target allocation maximum percentage of assets, singular equity security, without prior approval by plan administrator	10.00%
Value of investments	$ 280,000			$ 223,100
Percentage of total plan assets	12.00%			11.00%
Number of investments the company's pension plan held which individually exceed 10% of total plan assets	1			1
Concentration In Single Entity, Type Of Industry, Foreign Country Or Individual Fund [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Minimum percentage of plan assets considered as significant concentrations in pension plans	10.00%
Fixed income securities [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined benefit plan, target allocation percentage of assets, fixed-income securities, range minimum	10.00%
Geographic Concentration [Member] \| Foreign Investments [Member] \| Pension Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]
Value of investments	$ 298,200			$ 240,400
Percentage of total plan assets	13.00%			12.00%
Number of foreign countries for which the companys pension plan holds investments that exceed 10% of total plan assets \| country	1			1

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Obligation, Asset, and Funding Information) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Pension Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation
Service cost	$ 13,365	$ 9,107
Interest cost	14,291	14,591
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation
Service cost	429	367
Interest cost	1,023	1,060
Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Change in Benefit Obligation
Service cost	727	778
Interest cost	$ 510	$ 684

- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

+ References + Details

- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a, h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6525008

+ Details

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Total Benefit/Cost) (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net Periodic Cost (Benefit)	$ 4,390				$ 2,192
Early retirement program expense	14,258				1,022
Total Cost (Benefit)	18,615	$ 6,020	$ 12,785	$ 2,369	3,134	$ 24,308	$ (4,414)
Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Amortization of prior service credit (cost)	437				451
Curtailment loss	(3,471)				0
Total Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Before Tax Effects)	(1,591)				1,206
Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	13,365				9,107
Interest cost	14,291				14,591
Expected return on assets	(26,322)				(24,012)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	909				937
Recognized actuarial loss (gain)	2,147				1,569
Net Periodic Cost (Benefit)	4,390				2,192
Early retirement program expense	14,258				1,022
Total Cost (Benefit)	18,648				3,214
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	429				367
Interest cost	1,023				1,060
Expected return on assets	0				0
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	14				14
Recognized actuarial loss (gain)	711				458
Net Periodic Cost (Benefit)	2,177				1,899
Early retirement program expense	0				0
Total Cost (Benefit)	2,177				1,899
Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	727				778
Interest cost	510				684
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(1,360)				(1,402)
Recognized actuarial loss (gain)	(541)				(370)
Net Periodic Cost (Benefit)	(664)				(310)
Settlement gain	(3,471)				0
Total Cost (Benefit)	$ (4,135)				$ (310)

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details 7) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net amount	$ (116,214)	$ (117,169)

- Definition

The total of net gain (loss), prior service cost (credit), and transition assets (obligations), as well as minimum pension liability if still remaining, included in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan(s) because they have yet to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph i
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 158
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920043&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920043&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6920043&loc=d3e653-108580

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Pension and Postretirement Plans (Asset Allocation) (Details 9) - Pension Plans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total	100.00%	100.00%
U.S. equities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity securities	64.00%	64.00%
U.S. Fixed Income [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
U.S. fixed income	11.00%	13.00%
International equities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Equity securities	25.00%	23.00%

Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Foreign currency (losses) gains, net	$ (4,614)				$ 2,660
(Losses) gains on sales or write-downs of cost method investments	(179)				5,766
Other, net	710				162
Total Other Non-Operating (Expense) Income	$ (4,083)	$ (17,572)	$ 4,163	$ (635)	$ 8,588	$ (5,456)	$ (55,200)

- Definition

The aggregate foreign currency transaction gain (loss) (both realized and unrealized) included in determining net income for the reporting period. Excludes foreign currency transactions designated as hedges of net investment in a foreign entity and intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements. For certain enterprises, primarily banks, that are dealers in foreign exchange, foreign currency transaction gains (losses) may be disclosed as dealer gains (losses).

+ References + Details

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Components of OCI) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Translation adjustments arising during the period, before tax	$ (4,191)	$ 7,823
Translation adjustments arising during the period, income tax	0	0
Translation adjustments arising during the period, after tax	(4,191)	7,823
Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations, before tax	0	513
Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations, income tax	0	0
Adjustment for sale of a business with foreign operations, after tax	0	513
Total foreign currency translation adjustments, before tax	(4,191)	8,336
Total foreign currency translation adjustments, income tax	0	0
Total foreign currency translation adjustments, after tax	(4,191)	8,336
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains for the period, before tax	49,078	32,315
Unrealized gains for the period, tax	(19,631)	(12,925)
Unrealized gains for the period, after tax	29,447	19,390
Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale security included in net income, before tax	(551)	0
Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale security included in net income, income tax	220	0
Reclassification adjustment for gain on available-for-sale security included in net income, after tax	(331)	0
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, before tax	48,527	32,315
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, income tax	(19,411)	(12,925)
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, after tax	29,116	19,390
Pension and other postretirement plans:
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income, before tax	(437)	(451)
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income, income tax	175	180
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income, after tax	(262)	(271)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income, before tax	2,317	1,657
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income, income tax	(927)	(662)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income, after tax	1,390	995
Settlement gain included in net income, before tax	(3,471)	0
Settlement gain included in net income, income tax	1,388	0
Settlement gain included in net income, after tax	(2,083)	0
Total pension and other postretirement plans, before tax	(1,591)	1,206
Total pension and other postretirement plans, income tax	636	(482)
Total pension and other postretirement plans, after tax	(955)	724
Cash flow hedge:
Gain (loss) for the period, before tax	30	(35)
Gain (loss) for the period, income tax	(12)	14
Gain (loss) for the period, after tax	18	(21)
Other Comprehensive Income, before tax	42,775	41,822
Other Comprehensive Income, income tax	(18,787)	(13,393)
Other Comprehensive Income, after tax	$ 23,988	$ 28,429

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI balances) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, beginning balance	$ 26,072
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment - Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(4,191)	$ 7,823
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment - Net amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	(513)
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,191)	8,336
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, ending balance	21,881
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities, beginning balance	110,553
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities - Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	29,447
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities - Net amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(331)	0
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	29,116	19,390
Unrealized Gain on Available-for-Sale Securities, ending balance	139,669
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans, beginning balance	117,169
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans - Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans - Net amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(955)
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(955)	724
Unrealized Gain on Pensions and Other Postretirement Plans, ending balance	116,214
Cash Flow Hedge, beginning balance	(940)
Cash Flow Hedge - Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(94)
Cash Flow Hedge - Net amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	112
Cash Flow Hedge - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	18	(21)
Cash Flow Hedge, ending balance	(922)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, beginning balance	252,854
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	25,162
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Net amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,174)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Net other comprehensive income (loss)	23,988	$ 28,429
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, ending balance	$ 276,842

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Reclassifications out of AOCI) (Details 3) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Interest expense

$ 8,960

$ 9,064

$ 8,738

$ 8,979

$ 9,163

$ 35,944

$ 33,226

Other (Expense) Income, net

(4,083)

(17,572)

4,163

(635)

8,588

(5,456)

(55,200)

Income Before Tax

13,945

(36,828)

75,933

57,496

25,680

122,281

251,968

Provision for Income Taxes

(7,300)

(8,200)

(31,100)

(21,200)

(11,700)

(72,200)

(103,500)

Income Net of Tax

6,645

$ (45,028)

$ 44,833

$ 36,296

$ 13,980

$ 50,081

$ 148,468

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Income Net of Tax

(1,174)

Unrealized Gain (Losses) on Available- for- Sale Securities [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Other (Expense) Income, net

(551)

Provision for Income Taxes

220

Income Net of Tax

(331)

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Income Before Tax

(1,591)

Provision for Income Taxes

636

Income Net of Tax

(955)

Amortization of net prior service credit [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Income Before Tax

^[1]

(437)

Amortization of net actuarial loss [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Income Before Tax

^[1]

2,317

Settlement gain [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Income Before Tax

^[1]

(3,471)

Cash Flow Hedge [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification Adjustment Out Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]

Interest expense

186

Provision for Income Taxes

(74)

Income Net of Tax

$ 112

[1]	These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 9).

Contingencies (Details)	Mar. 31, 2013 claims programs
Number of existing legal claims or proceedings that are likely to have a material effect on the Company's business \| claims	0
Portion of regulations under 90/10 rule	a KHE OPEID unit would lose its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs for a period of at least two fiscal years if it derives more than 90% of its receipts from Title IV programs, as calculated on a cash basis in accordance with the Higher Education Act and applicable DOE regulations, in each of two consecutive fiscal years, commencing with the unit’s first fiscal year that ends after August 14, 2008. Any OPEID unit with Title IV receipts exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year ending after August 14, 2008, will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures.
KHE's Broomall, PA location [Member]
Number of pending DOE program reviews	1
Higher Education [Member]
Management's estimated outcome absent adoption of changes	at least 17 of the KHE Campuses’ OPEID units, representing approximately 19% of KHE’s 2012 revenues, could have a 90/10 ratio over 90%
Title IV participating institutions including Kaplan University [Member]
Number of pending DOE program reviews	4

Business Segments (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
Business Segments (Narrative) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2013 segments
Number of reportable segments	7

Business Segments (Information by Operating Segment) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenues	$ 959,105	$ 1,045,824	$ 1,005,194	$ 989,103	$ 955,501	$ 3,995,622	$ 4,109,812
Income (loss) from operations	23,060	(13,878)	75,761	63,021	21,298	146,202	330,298
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Affiliates, Net	3,418	2,785	4,099	3,314	3,888	14,086	5,949
Interest Expense, Net	(8,450)	(8,163)	(8,090)	(8,204)	(8,094)	(32,551)	(29,079)
Other (expense) income, net	(4,083)	(17,572)	4,163	(635)	8,588	(5,456)	(55,200)
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	13,945	(36,828)	75,933	57,496	25,680	122,281	251,968
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	65,791	79,593	63,397	62,401	61,924	267,315	247,650
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	3,717	119,203	5,091	4,428	3,873	132,595	22,335
Amortization of intangible assets	3,717	7,610	5,091	4,428	3,873	21,002	22,335
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593	0	0	0	111,593	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	18,615	6,020	12,785	2,369	3,134	24,308	(4,414)
Identifiable assets	3,838,107	4,104,624				4,104,624
Investment in Marketable Equity Securities	427,101	380,087				380,087
Investments In Affiliates	22,068	15,535				15,535
Prepaid Pension Cost	589,230	604,823				604,823
Total Assets	4,876,506	5,105,069				5,105,069
Education [Member]
Operating revenues	527,815	546,341	551,696	551,774	546,685	2,196,496	2,404,459
Income (loss) from operations	(4,056)	(111,874)	14,693	3,728	(11,915)	(105,368)	96,286
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	22,588	37,431	22,024	21,011	20,717	101,183	83,735
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	2,518	117,784	4,489	3,803	3,236	129,312	19,417
Amortization of intangible assets	2,518	6,191	4,489	3,803	3,236	17,719	19,417
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	0	111,593	0	0	0	111,593	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	4,106	3,701	3,522	1,969	2,392	11,584	6,345
Identifiable assets	1,727,078	1,988,015				1,988,015
Higher Education [Member]
Operating revenues	271,860	276,459	273,703	290,861	308,384	1,149,407	1,399,583
Income (loss) from operations	5,101	10,916	1,510	5,860	8,959	27,245	148,915
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	13,439	22,916	12,168	11,673	11,757	58,514	48,379
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	2,807	2,535	2,234	1,587	1,587	7,943	4,249
Identifiable assets	650,375	949,260				949,260
Test Preparation [Member]
Operating revenues	68,943	60,485	81,151	79,787	62,829	284,252	303,093
Income (loss) from operations	(4,345)	(6,732)	3,446	2,706	(10,219)	(10,799)	(28,498)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	4,758	5,410	5,544	4,449	4,315	19,718	15,489
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	640	626	554	414	413	2,007	1,288
Identifiable assets	198,639	197,672				197,672
Kaplan International [Member]
Operating revenues	184,813	206,928	194,158	179,141	173,563	753,790	690,226
Income (loss) from operations	6,397	15,319	20,365	9,788	4,140	49,612	46,498
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,996	8,659	3,841	4,471	4,178	21,149	16,746
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	87	76	112	(11)	12	189	142
Identifiable assets	840,187	818,613				818,613
Kaplan Corporate and Other [Member]
Operating revenues	2,604	4,756	3,809	3,090	3,384	15,039	18,940
Income (loss) from operations	(11,340)	(131,844)	(10,852)	(14,787)	(14,989)	(172,472)	(69,509)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	395	446	471	418	467	1,802	3,121
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	572	464	622	(21)	380	1,445	666
Identifiable assets	37,877	22,470				22,470
Cable Television [Member]
Operating revenues	200,138	201,703	199,625	195,579	190,210	787,117	760,221
Income (loss) from operations	36,613	43,445	39,913	38,446	32,777	154,581	156,844
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	33,733	32,366	32,310	32,234	32,197	129,107	126,302
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	50	52	52	53	54	211	267
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	882	802	694	514	530	2,540	1,924
Identifiable assets	1,181,320	1,187,603				1,187,603
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Operating revenues	127,264	155,952	132,025	139,228	132,450	559,655	601,199
Income (loss) from operations	(34,472)	3,180	(21,985)	(12,614)	(20,612)	(52,031)	(16,764)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	6,015	5,993	5,932	5,934	5,885	23,744	24,921
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	150	149	150	172	183	654	1,051
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	22,929	8,954	16,140	7,717	8,540	41,351	22,614
Identifiable assets	255,574	280,323				280,323
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Operating revenues	85,270	116,192	106,411	95,591	81,497	399,691	319,206
Income (loss) from operations	35,362	62,833	54,082	43,728	30,999	191,642	117,089
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	3,145	3,545	3,126	3,222	3,125	13,018	12,448
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	1,288	1,523	1,432	1,055	960	4,970	1,669
Identifiable assets	373,532	374,075				374,075
Other Businesses [Member]
Operating revenues	18,891	25,761	15,834	7,177	4,768	53,540	25,507
Income (loss) from operations	(6,113)	(6,578)	(5,248)	(6,775)	(4,643)	(23,244)	(8,735)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	310	258	5	0	0	263	0
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	999	1,218	400	400	400	2,418	1,600
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	76	22	18	10	10	60	17
Identifiable assets	64,215	81,211				81,211
Corporate Office [Member]
Operating revenues	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	(4,274)	(4,884)	(5,694)	(3,492)	(5,308)	(19,378)	(14,422)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	0	0	0	0	0	0	244
Amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Net Pension Expense (Credit)	(10,666)	(8,982)	(9,021)	(8,896)	(9,298)	(36,197)	(36,983)
Identifiable assets	236,388	193,397				193,397
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Operating revenues	(273)	(125)	(397)	(246)	(109)	(877)	(780)
Intersegment Elimination [Member] \| Education [Member]
Operating revenues	(405)	(2,287)	(1,125)	(1,105)	(1,475)	(5,992)	(7,383)
Income (loss) from operations	$ 131	$ 467	$ 224	$ 161	$ 194	$ 1,046	$ (1,120)

Summary of Quarterly Operating Results and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Quarterly Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 527,815	$ 546,341	$ 551,696	$ 551,774	$ 546,685	$ 2,196,496	$ 2,404,459
Advertising	163,148	225,624	191,779	186,486	167,558	771,447	738,489
Circulation and subscriber	221,709	220,732	219,137	217,747	213,677	871,293	852,891
Other	46,433	53,127	42,582	33,096	27,581	156,386	113,973
Total operating revenues	959,105	1,045,824	1,005,194	989,103	955,501	3,995,622	4,109,812
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	451,981	463,626	480,731	461,788	460,300	1,866,445	1,891,888
Selling, general and administrative	414,556	397,280	380,214	397,465	408,106	1,583,065	1,617,641
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	65,791	79,593	63,397	62,401	61,924	267,315	247,650
Amortization of intangible assets	3,717	7,610	5,091	4,428	3,873	21,002	22,335
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		111,593	0	0	0	111,593	0
Total operating costs and expenses	936,045	1,059,702	929,433	926,082	934,203	3,849,420	3,779,514
Income (Loss) from Operations	23,060	(13,878)	75,761	63,021	21,298	146,202	330,298
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	3,418	2,785	4,099	3,314	3,888	14,086	5,949
Interest income	510	901	648	775	1,069	3,393	4,147
Interest expense	(8,960)	(9,064)	(8,738)	(8,979)	(9,163)	(35,944)	(33,226)
Other income (expense), net	(4,083)	(17,572)	4,163	(635)	8,588	(5,456)	(55,200)
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	13,945	(36,828)	75,933	57,496	25,680	122,281	251,968
Provision for Income Taxes	7,300	8,200	31,100	21,200	11,700	72,200	103,500
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	6,645	(45,028)	44,833	36,296	13,980	50,081	148,468
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net Income (Loss)	5,259	(45,375)	93,947	52,047	31,568	132,187	117,157
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(97)	(64)	71	(11)	(70)	(74)	(7)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company	5,162	(45,439)	94,018	52,036	31,498	132,113	117,150
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(444)	0	(222)	(222)	(451)	(895)	(917)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders	4,718	(45,439)	93,796	51,814	31,047	131,218	116,233
Amounts Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	6,104	(45,092)	44,682	36,063	13,459	49,112	147,544
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,386)	(347)	49,114	15,751	17,588	82,106	(31,311)
Net income (loss) attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 4,718	$ (45,439)	$ 93,796	$ 51,814	$ 31,047	$ 131,218	$ 116,233
Per Share Information Attributable to The Washington Post Company Common Stockholders
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	$ 0.82	$ (6.52)	$ 6.02	$ 4.76	$ 1.72	$ 6.23	$ 18.66
Basic (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Basic net income (loss) per common share	0.64	(6.57)	12.64	6.84	4.07	17.39	14.70
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	0.82	(6.52)	6.02	4.76	1.72	6.23	18.66
Diluted (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations	(0.18)	(0.05)	6.62	2.08	2.35	11.16	(3.96)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share	$ 0.64	$ (6.57)	$ 12.64	$ 6.84	$ 4.07	$ 17.39	$ 14.70
Average number of common shares outstanding, basic	7,227				7,514
Average number of common shares outstanding, diluted	7,266				7,615