Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ (9,746)	$ 1,795	$ 3,632	$ 11,619
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	0	0	(1,247)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ (9,746)	$ 1,795	$ 3,632	$ 10,372
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic [Abstract]
Weighted Average Common Shares	53,627,000	52,325,000	53,342,000	52,305,000
Less non-vested restricted Common Stock	1,283,000	500,000	1,126,000	500,000
Basic average common shares	52,344,000	51,825,000	52,216,000	51,805,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	0	213,000	1,439,000	107,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	52,344,000	52,038,000	53,655,000	51,912,000
Continuing operations	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03	$ 0.07	$ 0.22
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03	$ 0.07	$ 0.20
Continuing operations	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03	$ 0.07	$ 0.22
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Diluted	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03	$ 0.07	$ 0.20
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		1,705,000	2,107,000	2,971,000