Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018
Operating revenue:
Operating revenue	$ 122,343,000	$ 136,201,000
Operating expenses:
Compensation	43,243,000	47,038,000
Newsprint and ink	4,736,000	6,339,000
Other operating expenses	48,462,000	49,743,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,719,000	7,529,000
Assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other, net	814,000	(100,000)
Restructuring costs and other	1,632,000	62,000
Total operating expenses	105,606,000	110,611,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	1,569,000	2,129,000
Operating income	18,306,000	27,719,000
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense	(11,115,000)	(12,256,000)
Debt financing and administrative costs	(1,196,000)	(896,000)
Other, net	1,593,000	665,000
Total non-operating expense, net	(10,718,000)	(12,487,000)
Income before income taxes	7,588,000	15,232,000
Income tax expense	1,871,000	4,513,000
Net income	5,717,000	10,719,000
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(397,000)	(358,000)
Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	5,320,000	10,361,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	317,000	(122,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ 5,637,000	$ 10,239,000
Earnings per common share:
Basic: (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.19
Diluted: (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.18
Advertising and Marketing Services [Member]
Operating revenue:
Operating revenue	$ 65,727,000	$ 75,962,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Operating revenue:
Operating revenue	41,694,000	46,268,000
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Operating revenue:
Operating revenue	$ 14,922,000	$ 13,971,000