Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 618,004,000	$ 509,854,000	$ 543,955,000
Operating expenses:
Compensation	243,023,000	182,869,000	199,164,000
Newsprint and ink	24,243,000	22,237,000	24,949,000
Other operating expenses	259,382,000	193,709,000	199,653,000
Depreciation and amortization	36,133,000	29,332,000	31,766,000
Assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other	(5,403,000)	2,464,000	6,429,000
Restructuring costs and other	13,751,000	11,635,000	5,550,000
Total operating expenses	571,129,000	442,246,000	467,511,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	3,403,000	7,121,000	9,249,000
Operating income	50,278,000	74,729,000	85,693,000
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense	(47,743,000)	(47,488,000)	(52,842,000)
Debt financing and administrative costs	(11,966,000)	(7,214,000)	(5,311,000)
Other, net	12,274,000	3,813,000	3,280,000
Total non-operating expense, net	(47,435,000)	(50,889,000)	(54,873,000)
Income before income taxes	2,843,000	23,840,000	30,820,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,104,000	7,931,000	(16,228,000)
Net income (loss)	(1,261,000)	15,909,000	47,048,000
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,845,000)	(1,641,000)	(1,282,000)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	(3,106,000)	14,268,000	45,766,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	9,064,000	(17,368,000)	4,322,000
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ 5,958,000	$ (3,100,000)	$ 50,088,000
Earnings per common share:
Basic: (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.26	$ 0.84
Diluted: (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.25	$ 0.82
Advertising and Marketing Services [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 289,655,000	$ 265,933,000	$ 303,446,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	265,939,000	186,691,000	195,108,000
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 62,410,000	$ 57,230,000	$ 45,401,000