Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2022	Jun. 27, 2021	Jun. 26, 2022	Jun. 27, 2021
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 195,037,000	$ 196,490,000	$ 587,333,000	$ 600,736,000
Operating expenses:
Compensation	78,126,000	82,731,000	246,333,000	250,048,000
Newsprint and ink	7,542,000	7,051,000	22,254,000	22,222,000
Other operating expenses	88,004,000	82,117,000	258,665,000	243,749,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,818,000	10,836,000	27,445,000	33,794,000
Assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other, net	1,086,000	242,000	(11,340,000)	6,938,000
Restructuring costs and other	6,072,000	1,419,000	19,862,000	5,880,000
Total operating expenses	189,648,000	184,396,000	563,219,000	562,631,000
Equity in earnings of associated companies	1,050,000	1,689,000	4,211,000	4,902,000
Operating income	6,439,000	13,783,000	28,325,000	43,007,000
Non-operating (expense) income:
Interest expense	(10,292,000)	(11,010,000)	(31,478,000)	(34,129,000)
Curtailment gain	0	0	1,027,000	23,830,000
Pension withdrawal cost	0	0	(2,335,000)	(12,310,000)
Other, net	4,205,000	2,330,000	13,525,000	6,240,000
Total non-operating (expense) income, net	(6,087,000)	(8,680,000)	(19,261,000)	(16,369,000)
Income before income taxes	352,000	5,103,000	9,064,000	26,638,000
Income tax expense	156,000	1,366,000	2,363,000	7,106,000
Net income	196,000	3,737,000	6,701,000	19,532,000
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(465,000)	(510,000)	(1,588,000)	(1,537,000)
(Loss) Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	(269,000)	3,227,000	5,113,000	17,995,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes	(1,167,000)	477,000	(8,446,000)	2,097,000
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ (1,436,000)	$ 3,704,000	$ (3,333,000)	$ 20,092,000
Earnings per common share:
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
Advertising and Marketing Services [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 91,001,000	$ 91,122,000	$ 277,388,000	$ 279,326,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	89,048,000	88,792,000	263,915,000	269,905,000
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Operating revenue:
Total operating revenue	$ 14,988,000	$ 16,576,000	$ 46,030,000	$ 51,505,000