Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]

	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	)