Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Level 1 (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 25, 2011

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]

18 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

	Quarter Ended
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Common Share Data)	December	March		June		September
2011
Operating revenue	207,668	178,726		187,306		182,405
Net income (loss)	18,980	(1,449	)	(155,440	)	(8,769	)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	18,945	(1,472	)	(155,517	)	(8,820	)
Earnings per common share:
Basic:	0.42	(0.03	)	(3.46	)	(0.20	)
Diluted:	0.42	(0.03	)	(3.46	)	(0.20	)
2010
Operating revenue	209,838	185,744		196,405		188,660
Net income	27,959	2,982		10,039		5,199
Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	27,907	2,991		10,019		5,189
Earnings per common share:
Basic:	0.63	0.07		0.22		0.12
Diluted:	0.62	0.07		0.22		0.11

Results of operations for the December, March and June quarters of 2011 include non-cash curtailment gains of $10,172,000, $1,991,000 and $3,974,000, respectively. Results of operations for the December and March quarters of 2010 include non-cash curtailment gains of $31,130,000 and $13,882,000, respectively. Results of operations for the June and September quarters of 2011 include non-cash impairment charges, net of deferred income tax benefit, of $161,801,000 and $13,910,000, respectively.