Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block]

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

	Quarter Ended
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Common Share Data)	December	March		June		September
2012
Operating revenue	192,042	165,461		172,640		180,343
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	14,406	(26,373	)	(1,045	)	(761	)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	218	(169	)	(309	)	(2,266	)
Net income (loss)	14,624	(26,542	)	(1,354	)	(3,027	)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	14,554	(26,625	)	(1,473	)	(3,154	)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic:
Continuing operations	0.32	(0.53	)	(0.02	)	(0.02	)
Discontinued operations	—	—		(0.01	)	(0.04	)
	0.32	(0.53	)	(0.03	)	(0.06	)
Diluted:
Continuing operations	0.32	(0.53	)	(0.02	)	(0.02	)
Discontinued operations	—	—		(0.01	)	(0.04	)
	0.32	(0.54	)	(0.03	)	(0.06	)
2011
Operating revenue	199,485	171,562		180,457		175,815
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	18,747	(1,106	)	(155,067	)	(8,009	)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	230	(343	)	(409	)	(724	)
Net income (loss)	18,977	(1,449	)	(155,476	)	(8,733	)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	18,941	(1,472	)	(155,553	)	(8,784	)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic:
Continuing operations	0.42	(0.02	)	(3.45	)	(0.18	)
Discontinued operations	0.01	(0.01	)	(0.01	)	(0.02	)
	0.42	(0.03	)	(3.46	)	(0.20	)
Diluted:
Continuing operations	0.42	(0.02	)	(3.45	)	(0.18	)
Discontinued operations	0.01	(0.01	)	(0.01	)	(0.02	)
	0.42	(0.03	)	(3.46	)	(0.20	)

Results of operations for the December and March quarters of 2012 include reorganization costs of $1,241,000 and $36,626,000, respectively. 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, including discontinued operations, for the September quarter of 2012 include non-cash impairment charges of $4,994,000. Results of operations, including discontinued operations, for the June and September quarters of 2011 include non-cash impairment charges, net of deferred income tax benefit, of $199,325,000 and $17,714,000, respectively.