Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues
Advertising	$ 2,701,000	$ 2,976,000	$ 7,954,000	$ 8,620,000
Circulation	1,445,000	1,502,000	4,429,000	4,518,000
Advertising service fees and other	711,000	770,000	2,040,000	2,104,000
Licensing and maintenance fees	3,315,000	3,175,000	10,752,000	9,318,000
Consulting fees	791,000	1,189,000	3,401,000	2,715,000
Other public service fees	1,540,000	1,534,000	4,636,000	4,647,000
	10,503,000	11,146,000	33,212,000	31,922,000
Costs and expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	6,357,000	6,175,000	19,740,000	19,032,000
Other outside services	827,000	822,000	2,509,000	2,409,000
Postage and delivery expenses	346,000	335,000	990,000	961,000
Newsprint and printing expenses	335,000	368,000	935,000	948,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,366,000	1,385,000	4,093,000	4,134,000
Other general and administrative expenses	2,405,000	2,325,000	7,411,000	6,492,000
	11,636,000	11,410,000	35,678,000	33,976,000
Loss from operations	(1,133,000)	(264,000)	(2,466,000)	(2,054,000)
Other income (expense)
Dividends and interest income	1,177,000	825,000	2,865,000	2,100,000
Other income and capital gains	11,000	26,000	49,000	81,000
Interest and penalty expenses accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	(26,000)	(518,000)	(70,000)	(518,000)
Interest expense	(56,000)	(56,000)	(168,000)	(173,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(27,000)	13,000	210,000	(564,000)
Benefit from income taxes	60,000	25,000	760,000	15,000
Net income	$ 33,000	$ 38,000	$ 970,000	$ (549,000)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746
Basic and diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.70	$ (0.40)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income	$ 33,000	$ 38,000	$ 970,000	$ (549,000)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (net of taxes)	5,277,000	(689,000)	833,000	18,177,000
(Loss) income before income taxes	$ 5,310,000	$ (651,000)	$ 1,803,000	$ 17,628,000