Note 8 - Earnings Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2022	Mar. 27, 2022	Dec. 26, 2021	Jun. 27, 2021	Mar. 28, 2021	Dec. 27, 2020	Jun. 26, 2022	Jun. 27, 2021
Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ (269)	$ (7,276)	$ 12,658	$ 3,227	$ (1,134)	$ 15,902	$ 5,113	$ 17,995
Weighted average common shares (in shares)	5,965			5,881			5,935	5,867
Less weighted average restricted Common Stock (in shares)	(170)			(156)			(168)	(155)
Basic average common shares (in shares)	5,795			5,725			5,767	5,712
Dilutive stock options and restricted Common Stock (in shares)	0			123			93	102
Diluted average common shares (in shares)	5,795			5,848			5,860	5,814
Basic: (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)			$ 0.56			$ 0.89	$ 3.15
Diluted: (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)			$ 0.55			$ 0.87	$ 3.10