Note 13 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2020
CWA/ITU Plan [Member] \| Pension Plan [Member]
Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Period (Year)	20 years

The period of time in which an obligation recognized by withdrawing from a pension or postretirement benefit plan will be paid.

No definition available.

Name:	lee_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	lee_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration