Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 25, 2011
Operating revenue:
Advertising	$ 459,845,000	$ 495,178,000	$ 516,094,000
Subscription	177,111,000	173,971,000	171,395,000
Other	37,784,000	37,772,000	35,732,000
Total operating revenue	674,740,000	706,921,000	723,221,000
Operating expenses:
Compensation	254,831,000	274,427,000	281,476,000
Newsprint and ink	43,481,000	51,635,000	55,818,000
Other operating expenses	213,021,000	213,502,000	219,515,000
Depreciation	21,412,000	23,443,000	25,624,000
Amortization of intangible assets	34,225,000	41,696,000	43,872,000
Impairment of intangible and other assets	171,094,000	1,388,000	204,289,000
Workforce adjustments	2,680,000	4,640,000	3,920,000
Total operating expenses	740,744,000	610,731,000	834,514,000
Curtailment gains	0	0	16,137,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	8,685,000	7,231,000	6,151,000
Reduction of investment in TNI Partners	0	0	11,900,000
Operating income (loss)	(57,319,000)	103,421,000	(100,905,000)
Non-operating income (expense):
Financial income	300,000	236,000	296,000
Interest expense	(89,447,000)	(83,078,000)	(52,696,000)
Debt financing costs	(646,000)	(2,823,000)	(12,612,000)
Other, net	7,889,000	(2,533,000)	595,000
Total non-operating expense, net	(81,904,000)	(88,198,000)	(64,417,000)
Income (loss) before reorganization costs and income taxes	(139,223,000)	15,223,000	(165,322,000)
Reorganization costs	0	37,765,000	0
Loss before income taxes	(139,223,000)	(22,542,000)	(165,322,000)
Income tax benefit	(62,745,000)	(9,161,000)	(20,166,000)
Loss from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(76,478,000)	(13,381,000)	(145,156,000)
Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	(1,246,000)	(2,918,000)	(1,525,000)
Net loss	(77,724,000)	(16,299,000)	(146,681,000)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(593,000)	(399,000)	(187,000)
Loss attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	(78,317,000)	(16,698,000)	(146,868,000)
Other comprehensive income, net	21,101,000	(7,348,000)	(12,737,000)
Comprehensive loss	(57,216,000)	(24,046,000)	(159,605,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	$ (77,071,000)	$ (13,780,000)	$ (145,343,000)
Loss per common share:
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ (1.49)	$ (0.28)	$ (3.24)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)
Basic	$ (1.51)	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ (1.49)	$ (0.28)	$ (3.24)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.03)
Diluted	$ (1.51)	$ (0.34)	$ (3.27)