Investments in Associated Companies Summarized Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 26, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of associated companies	$ 7,231,000	$ 6,151,000	$ 7,746,000
Reduction of investment in TNI Partners	0	11,900,000	0
Associated companies	42,201,000	44,057,000
Equity Method Investee- TNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Assets	8,029	7,857
Share of TNI Operating Expenses	(522,000)	76,000	291,000
Editorial Fees	5,994,000	7,043,000	7,510,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue	59,043,000	62,452,000	64,379,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Operating Expenses Excluding Depreciation, Amortization And Workforce Adjustments	49,568,000	52,882,000	52,923,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Workforce Adjustments	(31,000)	1,190,000	784,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Operating Income	9,506,000	8,380,000	10,672,000
Income (Loss) From Equity Method Investments Before Amortization	4,753,000	4,190,000	5,336,000
Amortization Of Intangible Assets- TNI	723,000	1,092,000	1,156,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	4,030,000	3,098,000	4,180,000
Reduction of investment in TNI Partners	0	11,900,000	0
Associated companies	19,450,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	620,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Two	418,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	418,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	418,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	418,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Assets	13	32
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets	8,042	7,889
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Liabilities	5,601	6,136
Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information, Equity	2,441	1,753
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities and Equity	8,042	7,889
Equity Method Investee- MNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Assets	25,000	22,000
Editorial Fees	8,098,000	8,201,000	8,318,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue	70,158,000	73,011,000	75,137,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Operating Expenses Excluding Depreciation, Amortization And Workforce Adjustments	57,981,000	60,982,000	61,467,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Workforce Adjustments	546,000	530,000	296,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Depreciation And Amortization	1,689,000	2,227,000	2,372,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Operating Income	9,942,000	9,272,000	11,002,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)	6,469,000	6,106,000	7,132,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	3,201,000	3,053,000	3,566,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Assets	30,000	30,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, PPE	8,000	9,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets	62,000	61,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Current Liabilities	10,015,000	8,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Noncurrent Liabilities	6,720,000	6,000
Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information, Equity	45,571,000	47,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities and Equity	62,306,000	61,000
Equity Method Investee- TNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 100% Owned Subsidiaries, Percentage Owned	50.00%
Equity Method Investee- MNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Less Than 100% Owned Subsidiaries, Percentage Owned	50.00%
Goodwill [Member] | Equity Method Investee- TNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity	12,366,000
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Member] | Equity Method Investee- TNI [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Difference Between Carrying Amount and Underlying Equity	$ 6,430,000