Note 4 - Investments in Associated Companies - Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Jun. 28, 2020	Mar. 29, 2020	Dec. 29, 2019	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 30, 2018	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Current assets	$ 108,753,000				$ 60,303,000				$ 108,753,000	$ 60,303,000
Total assets	864,057,000				555,202,000				864,057,000	555,202,000
Total liabilities	893,690,000				592,033,000				893,690,000	592,033,000
Members' equity	(31,564,000)				(38,484,000)				(31,564,000)	(38,484,000)	$ (37,354,000)
Total liabilities and members' equity	864,057,000				555,202,000				864,057,000	555,202,000
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	191,766,000	$ 182,528,000	$ 121,367,000	$ 122,343,000	123,665,000	$ 127,284,000	$ 122,704,000	$ 136,201,000	618,004,000	509,854,000	543,955,000
Operating expenses									571,129,000	442,246,000	467,511,000
Net income	(1,784,000)	(1,275,000)	(5,367,000)	5,320,000	819,000	5,766,000	(2,678,000)	10,361,000	(3,106,000)	14,268,000	45,766,000
Equity in earnings									3,403,000	7,121,000	9,249,000
Current liabilities	144,022,000				61,038,000				144,022,000	61,038,000
Restructuring Charges, Total									13,751,000	11,635,000	5,550,000
Depreciation and amortization									36,133,000	29,332,000	31,766,000
Operating income									50,278,000	74,729,000	85,693,000
Net (loss) income	(1,261,000)	$ (727,000)	$ (4,990,000)	$ 5,717,000	1,345,000	$ 6,172,000	$ (2,327,000)	$ 10,719,000	(1,261,000)	15,909,000	47,048,000
TNI Partners [Member]
Current assets	2,643,000				3,484,000				2,643,000	3,484,000
Investments and other assets	998,000				1,350,000				998,000	1,350,000
Total assets	3,641,000				4,834,000				3,641,000	4,834,000
Total liabilities	4,663,000				5,924,000				4,663,000	5,924,000
Members' equity	(1,022,000)				(1,090,000)				(1,022,000)	(1,090,000)
Total liabilities and members' equity	3,641,000				4,834,000				3,641,000	4,834,000
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									37,101,000	43,532,000	47,165,000
Operating expenses									29,673,000	34,224,000	37,090,000
Net income									7,428,000	9,308,000	10,075,000
Company's 50% share									3,714,000	4,654,000	5,038,000
Less amortization of intangible assets									209,000	418,000	418,000
Equity in earnings									3,505,000	4,236,000	4,620,000
Madison Newspapers, Inc. [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									48,056,000	56,790,000	59,670,000
Operating expenses									46,845,000	48,121,000	49,598,000
Equity in earnings									(102,000)	2,885,000	4,629,000
Restructuring Charges, Total									274,000	355,000	383,000
Depreciation and amortization									697,000	1,018,000	1,149,000
Operating income									240,000	7,296,000	8,540,000
Net (loss) income									(204,000)	5,770,000	$ 9,257,000
MNI [Member]
Current assets	10,113,000				8,796,000				10,113,000	8,796,000
Investments and other assets	29,952,000				31,134,000				29,952,000	31,134,000
Total assets	40,065,000				39,930,000				40,065,000	39,930,000
Members' equity	25,663,000				27,954,000				25,663,000	27,954,000
Total liabilities and members' equity	40,065,000				39,930,000				40,065,000	39,930,000
Current liabilities	8,540,000				5,912,000				8,540,000	5,912,000
Other liabilities	$ 5,862,000				$ 6,064,000				$ 5,862,000	$ 6,064,000