Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 26, 2010
Operating revenue:
Advertising	$ 495,872,000	$ 517,348,000	$ 537,223,000
Circulation	174,747,000	172,245,000	171,155,000
Other	39,867,000	37,726,000	40,066,000
Total operating revenue	710,486,000	727,319,000	748,444,000
Operating expenses:
Compensation	276,379,000	283,527,000	298,873,000
Newsprint and ink	52,003,000	56,191,000	51,707,000
Other operating expenses	214,570,000	220,656,000	227,603,000
Depreciation	23,620,000	25,833,000	26,716,000
Amortization of intangible assets	42,297,000	44,473,000	45,208,000
Impairment of goodwill and other assets	1,388,000	204,439,000	899,000
Workforce adjustments	4,640,000	3,922,000	1,199,000
Total operating expenses	614,897,000	839,041,000	652,205,000
Curtailment gains	0	16,137,000	45,012,000
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
Operating income (loss)	102,820,000	(101,334,000)	148,997,000
Non-operating income (expense):
Financial income	236,000	296,000	411,000
Financial expense	(83,078,000)	(52,696,000)	(63,117,000)
Debt financing costs	(2,823,000)	(12,612,000)	(8,514,000)
Other, net	(2,533,000)	595,000	(1,172,000)
Total non-operating expense, net	(88,198,000)	(64,417,000)	(72,392,000)
Income (loss) before reorganization costs and income taxes	14,622,000	(165,751,000)	76,605,000
Reorganization costs	37,765,000	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(23,143,000)	(165,751,000)	76,605,000
Income tax benefit	(9,371,000)	(20,316,000)	29,308,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(13,772,000)	(145,435,000)	47,297,000
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(2,527,000)	(1,246,000)	(1,119,000)
Net loss	(16,299,000)	(146,681,000)	46,178,000
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(399,000)	(187,000)	(73,000)
Loss attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	(16,698,000)	(146,868,000)	46,105,000
Other comprehensive income, net	(7,348,000)	(12,737,000)	(14,704,000)
Comprehensive loss	(24,046,000)	(159,605,000)	31,401,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ (14,171,000)	$ (145,622,000)	$ 47,224,000
Loss per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ (0.29)	$ (3.25)	$ 1.06
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.03)
Basic	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)	$ 1.03
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.29)	$ (3.25)	$ 1.05
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)
Diluted	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)	$ 1.03