Note 11 - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member]
Advertising	$ 2,715,000	$ 2,701,000	$ 7,382,000	$ 7,954,000
Circulation	1,467,000	1,445,000	4,431,000	4,429,000
Advertising service fees and other	720,000	702,000	2,014,000	2,037,000
Licensing and maintenance fees
Consulting fees
Other public service fees
Operating expenses	4,136,000	4,424,000	12,911,000	13,600,000
Income (loss) from operations	766,000	424,000	916,000	820,000
Dividends and interest income
Other income and capital gains	16,000		37,000
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate and margin loans	(26,000)		(62,000)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	756,000	424,000	891,000	820,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	(520,000)	(325,000)	(685,000)	(15,000)
Net income (loss)	236,000	99,000	206,000	805,000
Total assets	18,553,000	15,144,000	18,553,000	15,144,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	10,000	9,000	3,635,000	315,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	35,000		106,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member]
Advertising
Circulation
Advertising service fees and other
Licensing and maintenance fees	3,679,000	3,315,000	11,433,000	10,752,000
Consulting fees	748,000	791,000	3,788,000	3,401,000
Other public service fees	1,009,000	1,540,000	3,547,000	4,636,000
Operating expenses	7,984,000	7,215,000	23,004,000	22,081,000
Income (loss) from operations	(2,548,000)	(1,569,000)	(4,236,000)	(3,292,000)
Dividends and interest income
Other income and capital gains
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate and margin loans
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	(26,000)	(26,000)	(75,000)	(70,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(2,574,000)	(1,595,000)	(4,311,000)	(3,362,000)
Income tax (expense) benefit	1,010,000	565,000	1,680,000	1,235,000
Net income (loss)	(1,564,000)	(1,030,000)	(2,631,000)	(2,127,000)
Total assets	40,119,000	46,419,000	40,119,000	46,419,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	32,000	38,000	35,000	118,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	1,224,000	1,223,000	3,671,000	3,671,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Advertising
Circulation
Advertising service fees and other
Licensing and maintenance fees
Consulting fees
Other public service fees
Operating expenses
Income (loss) from operations
Dividends and interest income	1,277,000	1,177,000	3,013,000	2,865,000
Other income and capital gains		23,000	9,000	55,000
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate and margin loans	(82,000)	(56,000)	(208,000)	(168,000)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	1,195,000	1,144,000	2,814,000	2,752,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	(205,000)	(180,000)	(470,000)	(460,000)
Net income (loss)	990,000	964,000	2,344,000	2,292,000
Total assets	161,250,000	181,637,000	161,250,000	181,637,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Advertising	2,715,000	2,701,000	7,382,000	7,954,000
Circulation	1,467,000	1,445,000	4,431,000	4,429,000
Advertising service fees and other	720,000	702,000	2,014,000	2,037,000
Licensing and maintenance fees	3,679,000	3,315,000	11,433,000	10,752,000
Consulting fees	748,000	791,000	3,788,000	3,401,000
Other public service fees	1,009,000	1,540,000	3,547,000	4,636,000
Operating expenses	12,120,000	11,639,000	35,915,000	35,681,000
Income (loss) from operations	(1,782,000)	(1,145,000)	(3,320,000)	(2,472,000)
Dividends and interest income	1,277,000	1,177,000	3,013,000	2,865,000
Other income and capital gains	16,000	23,000	46,000	55,000
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate and margin loans	(108,000)	(56,000)	(270,000)	(168,000)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	(26,000)	(26,000)	(75,000)	(70,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(623,000)	(27,000)	(606,000)	210,000
Income tax (expense) benefit	285,000	60,000	525,000	760,000
Net income (loss)	(338,000)	33,000	(81,000)	970,000
Total assets	219,922,000	243,200,000	219,922,000	243,200,000	$ 228,196,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment	42,000	47,000	3,670,000	433,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 1,259,000	$ 1,223,000	$ 3,777,000	$ 3,671,000