Note 6 - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)
Traditional Business [Member]
Advertising, net	$ 10,502,000	$ 11,435,000	$ 14,472,000	[1]
Circulation	5,915,000	6,038,000	6,346,000	[1]
Advertising service fees and other	$ 2,703,000	$ 2,800,000	$ 3,012,000	[1]
Licensing and maintenance fees				[1]
Consulting fees				[1]
Other public service fees				[1]
Operating expenses	$ 18,038,000	$ 17,154,000	$ 15,856,000	[1]
Income (loss) from operations	$ 1,082,000	$ 3,119,000	$ 7,974,000	[1]
Dividends and interest income				[1]
Other income and capital gains				[1]
Interest expense on margin loans				[1]
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits				[1]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
Pretax income (loss)	$ 1,082,000	$ 3,119,000	$ 7,974,000	[1]
Income tax benefit	(70,000)	(1,460,000)	(3,301,000)	[1]
Net income (loss)	1,012,000	1,659,000	4,673,000	[1]
Total assets	15,047,000	18,228,000	18,458,000	[1]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	425,000	$ 110,000	$ 96,000	[1]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 12,000			[1]
Journal Technologies [Member]
Advertising, net				[1]
Circulation				[1]
Advertising service fees and other				[1]
Licensing and maintenance fees	$ 13,984,000	$ 12,987,000	$ 9,942,000	[1]
Consulting fees	4,704,000	4,002,000	3,406,000	[1]
Other public service fees	6,170,000	6,161,000	498,000	[1]
Operating expenses	29,452,000	28,459,000	18,031,000	[1]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (4,594,000)	$ (5,309,000)	$ (4,185,000)	[1]
Dividends and interest income				[1]
Other income and capital gains				[1]
Interest expense on margin loans				[1]
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	$ (96,000)	$ (537,000)		[1]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
Pretax income (loss)	$ (4,690,000)	(5,846,000)	$ (4,185,000)	[1]
Income tax benefit	1,580,000	2,350,000	2,263,000	[1]
Net income (loss)	(3,110,000)	(3,496,000)	(1,922,000)	[1]
Total assets	47,108,000	51,973,000	47,611,000	[1]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	140,000	325,000	184,000	[1]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 4,895,000	$ 4,866,000	$ 1,865,000	[1]
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Advertising, net				[1]
Circulation				[1]
Advertising service fees and other				[1]
Licensing and maintenance fees				[1]
Consulting fees				[1]
Other public service fees				[1]
Operating expenses				[1]
Income (loss) from operations				[1]
Dividends and interest income	$ 3,829,000	$ 3,001,000	$ 2,541,000	[1]
Other income and capital gains	69,000	97,000	55,000	[1]
Interest expense on margin loans	$ (224,000)	$ (230,000)	(97,000)	[1]
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits			(1,719,000)	[1]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments	$ (376,000)
Pretax income (loss)	3,298,000	$ 2,868,000	780,000	[1]
Income tax benefit	(390,000)	(400,000)	248,000	[1]
Net income (loss)	2,908,000	2,468,000	1,028,000	[1]
Total assets	$ 166,041,000	$ 173,676,000	$ 136,994,000	[1]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment				[1]
Amortization of Intangible Assets				[1]
Advertising, net	$ 10,502,000	$ 11,435,000	$ 14,472,000	[1]
Circulation	5,915,000	6,038,000	6,346,000	[1]
Advertising service fees and other	2,703,000	2,800,000	3,012,000	[1]
Licensing and maintenance fees	13,984,000	12,987,000	9,942,000	[1]
Consulting fees	4,704,000	4,002,000	3,406,000	[1]
Other public service fees	6,170,000	6,161,000	498,000	[1]
Operating expenses	47,490,000	45,613,000	33,887,000	[1]
Income (loss) from operations	(3,512,000)	(2,190,000)	3,789,000	[1]
Dividends and interest income	3,829,000	3,001,000	2,541,000	[1]
Other income and capital gains	65,000	97,000	54,000	[1]
Interest expense on margin loans	(224,000)	(230,000)	(97,000)	[1]
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	(96,000)	$ (537,000)	(1,719,000)	[1]
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments	(376,000)		(1,719,000)
Pretax income (loss)	(310,000)	$ 141,000	4,569,000	[1]
Income tax benefit	1,120,000	490,000	(790,000)	[1]
Net income (loss)	810,000	631,000	3,779,000	[1]
Total assets	228,196,000	243,877,000	203,063,000	[1]
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	565,000	435,000	280,000	[1]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 4,907,000	$ 4,866,000	$ 1,865,000	[1]

[1] Includes (i) New Dawn's financial results from December 5, 2012 through September 30, 2013 with revenues of $10,403,000 and expenses of $10,625,000 (including intangible amortization expenses of $1,587,000), and (ii) ISD's September 2013 financial results with revenues of $784,000 and expenses of $694,000 (including intangible amortization expenses of $278,000).