Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 24, 2012	Mar. 25, 2012	Dec. 25, 2011	Sep. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2011	Mar. 27, 2011	Dec. 26, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 26, 2010
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent									$ (14,171,000)	$ (145,622,000)	$ 47,224,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(2,266,000)	(309,000)	(169,000)	218,000	(724,000)	(409,000)	(343,000)	230,000	(2,527,000)	(1,246,000)	(1,119,000)
Loss attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ (3,154,000)	$ (1,473,000)	$ (26,625,000)	$ 14,554,000	$ (8,784,000)	$ (155,553,000)	$ (1,472,000)	$ 18,941,000	$ (16,698,000)	$ (146,868,000)	$ 46,105,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic [Abstract]
Weighted Average Common Shares									49,357,000	44,912,000	44,902,000
Less non-vested restricted Common Stock									(96,000)	(65,000)	(347,000)
Basic average common shares									49,261,000	44,847,000	44,555,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment									0	0	400,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted									49,261,000	44,847,000	44,955,000
Basic	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.53)	$ 0.32	$ (0.20)	$ (3.46)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.42	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)	$ 1.03
Diluted	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.5356393284)	$ 0.32	$ (0.20)	$ (3.46)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.42	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)	$ 1.03
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount									2,334,000	1,944,000	942,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.53)	$ 0.32	$ (0.18)	$ (3.45)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.42	$ (0.29)	$ (3.25)	$ 1.06
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.03)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.53)	$ 0.32	$ (0.18)	$ (3.45)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.42	$ (0.29)	$ (3.25)	$ 1.05
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)