Statement of Stockholders Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Retained Earnings [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated deficit		$ (328,524)
Common Stock			$ 567
Additional paid-in capital				$ 251,790
Accumulated other comprehensive income					$ (16,068)
Total stockholders' deficit	$ (92,235)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	(461)		4	(465)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	35,003	35,003
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	519			519
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, before Tax	36				36
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	(9)				(9)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	(443)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	37,242
Accumulated deficit		(293,521)
Common Stock			571
Additional paid-in capital				251,844
Accumulated other comprehensive income					(16,041)
Total stockholders' deficit	(57,147)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	18		(1)	19
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	2,239	2,239
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	439			439
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, before Tax	(71)				(71)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	35				35
Accumulated deficit		(291,282)
Common Stock			570
Additional paid-in capital				252,302
Accumulated other comprehensive income					(16,077)
Total stockholders' deficit	(54,487)
Accumulated deficit	(279,691)	(279,691)
Common Stock			572
Additional paid-in capital	253,511			253,511
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(11,746)				(11,746)
Total stockholders' deficit	(37,354)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	(448)		5	(453)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	10,361	10,361
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	385			385
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, before Tax	(163)				(163)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	41				41
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	(347)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	7,683
Accumulated deficit		(269,330)
Common Stock			577
Additional paid-in capital				253,443
Accumulated other comprehensive income					(11,868)
Total stockholders' deficit	(27,178)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Other	317			317
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	(2,678)	(2,678)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Compensation Expense	425			425
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, before Tax	(163)				(163)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	41				41
Accumulated deficit	(272,008)	$ (272,008)
Common Stock			$ 577
Additional paid-in capital	254,185			$ 254,185
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(11,990)				$ (11,990)
Total stockholders' deficit	$ (29,236)