Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, except for our 50% interest in TNI Partners (“TNI”), 50% interest in Madison Newspapers, Inc. (“MNI”) and 82.5% interest in INN Partners, L.C. (“INN”).

Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fiscal Year

All of our enterprises use period accounting with the fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in September. Due to our fiscal calendar, 2012 includes 53 weeks of business operations. 2011 and 2010 include 52 weeks.

Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Subsequent Events

We have evaluated subsequent events through December 14, 2012. No events have occurred subsequent to September 30, 2012 that require disclosure or recognition in these financial statements, except as included herein.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying

values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Investments in TNI and MNI are accounted for using the equity method and are reported at cost, plus our share of undistributed earnings since acquisition less, for TNI, amortization of intangible assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less at date of acquisition to be cash equivalents.

Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit are included in accounts payable and are classified as financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable

We evaluate our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable based on historical credit experience, payment trends and other economic factors. Delinquency is determined based on timing of payments in relation to billing dates. Accounts considered to be uncollectible are written off.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

Newsprint inventories are priced at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined by the first-in, first-out or last-in, first-out methods. Newsprint inventories at September 30, 2012and September 25, 2011 are less than replacement cost by $3,556,000 and $3,895,000, respectively.

The components of newsprint inventory by cost method are as follows:

(Thousands of Dollars)	September 30 2012	September 25 2011
First-in, first-out	2,848	2,595
Last-in, first-out	2,723	2,719
	5,571	5,314

Other inventories consisting of ink, plates and film are priced at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined by the first-in, first-out method.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Investments

Other investments primarily consist of marketable securities held in trust under a deferred compensation arrangement and investments for which no established market exists. Marketable securities are classified as trading securities and carried at fair value with gains and losses reported in earnings. Non-marketable securities are carried at cost.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost. Equipment, except for printing presses and preprint insertion equipment, is depreciated primarily by declining-balance methods. The straight-line method is used for all other assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

	Years
Buildings and improvements	5 - 54
Printing presses and insertion equipment	3 - 28
Other	3 - 20

We capitalize interest as a component of the cost of constructing major facilities. At September 30, 2012andSeptember 25, 2011, capitalized interest was not significant.

We recognize the fair value of a liability for a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity when such activity is a condition of a future event and the fair value of the liability can be estimated.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include covenants not to compete, consulting agreements, customer lists, newspaper subscriber lists and mastheads. Intangible assets subject to amortization are being amortized using the straight-line method as follows:

	Years
Customer lists	7 - 23
Newspaper subscriber lists	7 - 33
Noncompete and consulting agreements	15

In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets, we annually assess qualitative factors affecting our business to determine if the probability of a goodwill impairment is more likely than not. Our assessment includes reviewing internal and external factors affecting our business such as cash flow projections, stock price and other industry or market considerations. This assessment is normally made in the last fiscal quarter of each year.

We analyze goodwill and other nonamortized intangible assets for impairment more frequently if impairment indicators are present. Such indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to, changes in business climate and operating or cash flow losses related to such assets.

Should we determine that a goodwill impairment is more likely than not, we make a determination of the fair value of our business. Fair value is determined using a combination of an income approach, which estimates fair value based upon future revenue, expenses and cash flows discounted to their present value, and a market approach, which estimates fair value using market multiples of various financial measures compared to a set of comparable public companies in the publishing industry. A non-cash impairment charge will generally be recognized when the carrying amount of the net assets of the business exceeds its estimated fair value.

Should we determine that a nonamortized intangible asset impairment is more likely than not, we make a determination of the individual asset's fair value. Fair value is determined using the relief from royalty method, which estimates fair value based upon appropriate royalties of future revenue discounted to their present value. The impairment amount, if any, is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of such asset.

The required valuation methodology and underlying financial information that are used to determine fair value require significant judgments to be made by us. These judgments include, but are not limited to, long term projections of future financial performance and the selection of appropriate discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.

We review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. We assess recoverability of these assets by comparing the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with the asset or asset group with their carrying amount. The impairment amount, if any, is calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets.

We also periodically evaluate the useful lives of amortizable intangible assets. Any resulting changes in the useful lives of such intangible assets will not impact our cash flows. However, a decrease in the useful lives of such intangible assets would increase future amortization expense and decrease future reported operating results and earnings per common share. See Note 4.

Minority Interest Policy [Policy Text Block]

Minority Interest

Minority interest in earnings of INN is recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Advertising revenue is recorded when advertisements are placed in the publication or on the related digital product. Circulation revenue is recorded over the print or digital product subscription term or as such newspapers are individually sold. Other revenue is recognized when the related product or service has been delivered. Unearned revenue arises in the ordinary course of business from advance subscription payments for print or digital products or advance payments for advertising.

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Costs

A substantial amount of our advertising and promotion expense consists of ads placed in our own publications and digital products using available space. The incremental cost of such advertising is not significant and is not measured separately by us. External advertising costs are not significant and are expensed as incurred.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Pension, Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Plans

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We utilize FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, to measure and report fair value. FASB ASC Topic 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FASB ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy of fair value measurements based on whether the inputs to those measurements are observable or unobservable, which consists of the following levels:

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets.

Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

Valuation methodologies used for pension and postretirement assets measured at fair value are as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents consist of short term deposits valued based on quoted prices in active markets. Such investments are classified as Level 1.

Equity securities are valued based on the closing market price in an active market and are classified as Level 1. Certain investments in commingled funds are valued at the net asset value of units held at the end of the period based upon the value of the underlying investments as determined by quoted market prices. Such investments are classified as Level 2.

Debt securities consist of corporate bonds and government securities that are valued based upon quoted market prices. Such investments are classified as Level 1. Certain investments in commingled funds are valued at the net asset value of units held at the end of the period based upon the value of the underlying investments as determined by quoted market prices. Such investments are classified as Level 2.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock Compensation

We have four stock-based compensation plans. We account for grants under those plans under the fair value expense recognition provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. We determine the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing formula. Key inputs to this formula include expected term, expected volatility and the risk-free interest rate.

The expected term represents the period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding, and is determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to contractual terms of the awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. The volatility factor is calculated using historical market data for our Common Stock. The time frame used is equal to the expected term. We base the risk-free interest rate on the yield to maturity at the time of the stock option grant on zero-coupon U.S. government bonds having a remaining term equal to the option's expected term. When estimating forfeitures, we consider voluntary termination behavior as well as actual option forfeitures.

We amortize as compensation expense the value of stock options and restricted Common Stock using the straight-line method over the vesting or restriction period, which is generally one to three years.

Uninsured Risks Policy [Policy Text Block]

Uninsured Risks

We are self-insured for health care, workers compensation and certain long-term disability costs of our employees, subject to stop loss insurance, which limits exposure to large claims. We accrue our estimated health care costs in the period in which such costs are incurred, including an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Other risks are insured and carry deductible losses of varying amounts. Letters of credit and performance bonds totaling $6,256,000 at September 30, 2012 are outstanding in support of our insurance program.

Our accrued reserves for health care and workers compensation claims are based upon estimates of the remaining liability for retained losses made by consulting actuaries. The amount of workers compensation reserve has been determined based upon historical patterns of incurred and paid loss development factors from the insurance industry.

Discontinued Operations, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Discontinued Operations

In accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 360, Property, Land and Equipment, the operations and related losses on businesses sold, or identified as held for sale, have been presented as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for all years presented. Gains are recognized when realized.