Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Aug. 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012
Series A Preferred Stock
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE; $50.00 LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE; AUTHORIZED 2,875,000 SHARES; ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING 2,422,320 SHARES AT FEBRUARY 29, 2012 AND 2,822,320 SHARES ATAUGUST 31, 2012.. EMMIS HAS OBTAINED RIGHTS IN 1884,679 OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING AS OF AUGUST 31, 2012 (REDEMPTION AMOUNT, INCLUDING UNDECLARED DIVIDENDS IN ARREARS, OF $57351 AND $59,157, RESPECTIVELY). (SEE NOTE 2)	$ 50.00	$ 50.00
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARES AUTHORIZED	2,875,000	2,875,000
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARE ISSUED	2,822,320	2,422,320
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARE OUTSTANDING	2,822,320	2,422,320
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, SHARES IN WHICH EMMIS HAS OBTAINED RIGHTS	1,884,679
SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK, PAR VALUE	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
UNDECLARED DIVIDEND IN ARREARS	$ 59,157,000	$ 57,351,000
Class A Common Stock
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	170,000,000	170,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	34,213,529	34,007,279
Common stock, shares outstanding	34,213,529	34,007,279
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	4,722,684	4,722,684
Common stock, shares outstanding	4,722,684	4,722,684