Note 6 - Reportable Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Notes Tables

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate income and expenses			Total
Fiscal 2016
Revenues
Advertising, net	$	9,854,000		$	---		$	---		$	9,854,000
Circulation		5,912,000			---			---			5,912,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,651,000			---			---			2,651,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			14,758,000			---			14,758,000
Consulting fees		---			4,085,000			---			4,085,000
Other public service fees		---			4,352,000			---			4,352,000
Operating expenses		17,240,000			31,012,000			---			48,252,000
Income (loss) from operations		1,177,000			(7,817,000	)		---			(6,640,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			4,085,000			4,085,000
Other income		52,000			---			9,000			61,000
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate		(88,000	)		---			---			(88,000	)
Interest expense on margin loans		---			---			(284,000	)		(284,000	)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		---			(112,000	)		---			(112,000	)
Pretax income (loss)		1,141,000			(7,929,000	)		3,810,000			(2,978,000	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(530,000	)		3,140,000			(675,000	)		1,935,000
Net income (loss)		611,000			(4,789,000	)		3,135,000			(1,043,000	)
Total assets		19,026,000			39,786,000			166,634,000			225,446,000
Capital expenditures, including purchase of Logan building		3,662,000			117,000			---			3,779,000
Amortization of intangible assets		142,000			4,895,000			---			5,037,000

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate income and expenses			Total
Fiscal 2015
Revenues
Advertising, net	$	10,502,000		$	---		$	---		$	10,502,000
Circulation		5,915,000			---			---			5,915,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,703,000			---			---			2,703,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			13,984,000			---			13,984,000
Consulting fees		---			4,704,000			---			4,704,000
Other public service fees		---			6,170,000			---			6,170,000
Operating expenses		18,038,000			29,452,000			---			47,490,000
Income (loss) from operations		1,082,000			(4,594,000	)		---			(3,512,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			3,829,000			3,829,000
Other income and capital gains		---			---			69,000			69,000
Interest expense on margin loans		---			---			(224,000	)		(224,000	)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		---			(96,000	)		---			(96,000	)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments		---			---			(376,000	)		(376,000	)
Pretax income (loss)		1,082,000			(4,690,000	)		3,298,000			(310,000	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(70,000	)		1,580,000			(390,000	)		1,120,000
Net income (loss)		1,012,000			(3,110,000	)		2,908,000			810,000
Total assets		15,047,000			47,108,000			166,041,000			228,196,000
Capital expenditures		425,000			140,000			---			565,000
Amortization of intangible assets		12,000			4,895,000			---			4,907,000

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate income and expenses			Total
Fiscal 2014
Revenues
Advertising, net	$	11,435,000		$	---		$	---		$	11,435,000
Circulation		6,038,000			---			---			6,038,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,800,000			---			---			2,800,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			12,987,000			---			12,987,000
Consulting fees		---			4,002,000			---			4,002,000
Other public service fees		---			6,161,000			---			6,161,000
Operating expenses		17,154,000			28,459,000			---			45,613,000
Income (loss) from operations		3,119,000			(5,309,000	)		---			(2,190,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			3,001,000			3,001,000
Other income		---			---			97,000			97,000
Interest expense on margin loans		---			---			(230,000	)		(230,000	)
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		---			(537,000	)		---			(537,000	)
Pretax income (loss)		3,119,000			(5,846,000	)		2,868,000			141,000
Income tax benefit (expense)		(1,460,000	)		2,350,000			(400,000	)		490,000
Net income (loss)		1,659,000			(3,496,000	)		2,468,000			631,000
Total assets		18,228,000			51,973,000			173,676,000			243,877,000
Capital expenditures		110,000			325,000			---			435,000
Amortization of intangible assets		---			4,866,000			---			4,866,000