Note 10 - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues
Advertising	$ 2,549,000	$ 2,796,000	$ 5,253,000	$ 5,644,000
Circulation	1,460,000	1,476,000	2,984,000	3,016,000
Advertising service fees and other	650,000	661,000	1,335,000	1,337,000
Licensing and maintenance fees	3,680,000	3,135,000	7,437,000	6,143,000
Consulting fees	1,418,000	1,109,000	2,610,000	1,526,000
Other public service fees	1,635,000	1,651,000	3,096,000	3,113,000
Operating expenses	12,358,000	11,346,000	24,042,000	22,566,000
Income (loss) from operations	(966,000)	(518,000)	(1,327,000)	(1,787,000)
Dividends and interest income	860,000	622,000	1,688,000	1,276,000
Other income and capital gains	14,000	25,000	32,000	51,000
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	(24,000)		(44,000)
Interest expenses	(55,000)	(56,000)	(112,000)	(117,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(171,000)	73,000	237,000	(577,000)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	675,000	(20,000)	700,000	(10,000)
Net income (loss)	504,000	53,000	937,000	(587,000)
Total assets	234,595,000	231,174,000	234,595,000	231,174,000
Capital expenditures	317,000	118,000	386,000	209,000
Amortization of intangible assets	1,224,000	1,224,000	2,448,000	2,419,000
Traditional Business [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues
Advertising	2,549,000	2,796,000	5,253,000	5,644,000
Circulation	1,460,000	1,476,000	2,984,000	3,016,000
Advertising service fees and other	650,000	661,000	1,335,000	1,337,000
Operating expenses	4,553,000	4,493,000	9,176,000	8,863,000
Income (loss) from operations	106,000	440,000	396,000	1,134,000
(Loss) income before income taxes	106,000	440,000	396,000	1,134,000
Net income (loss)	106,000	440,000	396,000	1,134,000
Total assets	14,012,000	10,169,000	14,012,000	10,169,000
Capital expenditures	248,000	27,000	306,000	52,000
Journal Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues
Licensing and maintenance fees	3,680,000	3,135,000	7,437,000	6,143,000
Consulting fees	1,418,000	1,109,000	2,610,000	1,526,000
Other public service fees	1,635,000	1,651,000	3,096,000	3,113,000
Operating expenses	7,805,000	6,853,000	14,866,000	13,703,000
Income (loss) from operations	(1,072,000)	(958,000)	(1,723,000)	(2,921,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(1,072,000)	(958,000)	(1,723,000)	(2,921,000)
Net income (loss)	(1,072,000)	(958,000)	(1,723,000)	(2,921,000)
Total assets	47,718,000	47,329,000	47,718,000	47,329,000
Capital expenditures	69,000	91,000	80,000	157,000
Amortization of intangible assets	1,224,000	1,224,000	2,448,000	2,419,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Revenues
Dividends and interest income	860,000	622,000	1,688,000	1,276,000
Other income and capital gains	14,000	25,000	32,000	51,000
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits			(44,000)
Interest expenses	(55,000)	(56,000)	(112,000)	(117,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	795,000	591,000	1,564,000	1,210,000
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	675,000	(20,000)	700,000	(10,000)
Net income (loss)	1,470,000	571,000	2,264,000	1,200,000
Total assets	$ 172,865,000	$ 173,676,000	$ 172,865,000	$ 173,676,000