Note 6 - Reportable Segments - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate									$ (88,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member]
Advertising, net									9,854,000	10,502,000	11,435,000
Circulation									5,912,000	5,915,000	6,038,000
Advertising service fees and other									2,651,000	2,703,000	2,800,000
Licensing and maintenance fees
Consulting fees
Other public service fees
Operating expenses									17,240,000	18,038,000	17,154,000
Income (loss) from operations									1,177,000	1,082,000	3,119,000
Dividends and interest income
Other income and capital gains									52,000
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest									1,141,000	1,082,000	3,119,000
Income tax benefit (expense)									(530,000)	(70,000)	(1,460,000)
Net income (loss)									611,000	1,012,000	1,659,000
Total assets	$ 19,026,000				$ 15,047,000				19,026,000	15,047,000	18,228,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									3,662,000	425,000	110,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets									142,000	12,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member]
Advertising, net
Circulation
Advertising service fees and other
Licensing and maintenance fees									14,758,000	13,984,000	12,987,000
Consulting fees									4,085,000	4,704,000	4,002,000
Other public service fees									4,352,000	6,170,000	6,161,000
Operating expenses									31,012,000	29,452,000	28,459,000
Income (loss) from operations									(7,817,000)	(4,594,000)	(5,309,000)
Dividends and interest income
Other income and capital gains
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits									(112,000)	(96,000)	(537,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest									(7,929,000)	(4,690,000)	(5,846,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)									3,140,000	1,580,000	2,350,000
Net income (loss)									(4,789,000)	(3,110,000)	(3,496,000)
Total assets	39,786,000				47,108,000				39,786,000	47,108,000	51,973,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									117,000	140,000	325,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets									4,895,000	4,895,000	4,866,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate									(284,000)	(224,000)	(230,000)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Advertising, net
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									4,085,000	3,829,000	3,001,000
Other income and capital gains									9,000	69,000	97,000
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest									3,810,000	3,298,000	2,868,000
Income tax benefit (expense)									(675,000)	(390,000)	(400,000)
Net income (loss)									3,135,000	2,908,000	2,468,000
Total assets	166,634,000				166,041,000				166,634,000	166,041,000	173,676,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments										(376,000)
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate									(88,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate									(284,000)	(224,000)	(230,000)
Advertising, net									9,854,000	10,502,000	11,435,000
Circulation									5,912,000	5,915,000	6,038,000
Advertising service fees and other									2,651,000	2,703,000	2,800,000
Licensing and maintenance fees									14,758,000	13,984,000	12,987,000
Consulting fees									4,085,000	4,704,000	4,002,000
Other public service fees									4,352,000	6,170,000	6,161,000
Operating expenses									48,252,000	47,490,000	45,613,000
Income (loss) from operations									(6,640,000)	(3,512,000)	(2,190,000)
Dividends and interest income									4,085,000	3,829,000	3,001,000
Other income and capital gains									61,000	65,000	97,000
Interest expense accrued for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits									(112,000)	(96,000)	(537,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(2,372,000)	$ (623,000)	$ 152,000	$ (135,000)	(520,000)	$ (27,000)	$ (171,000)	$ 408,000	(2,978,000)	(310,000)	141,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,410,000	285,000	55,000	185,000	360,000	60,000	675,000	25,000	1,935,000	1,120,000	490,000
Net income (loss)	(962,000)	$ (338,000)	$ 207,000	$ 50,000	(160,000)	$ 33,000	$ 504,000	$ 433,000	(1,043,000)	810,000	631,000
Total assets	$ 225,446,000				$ 228,196,000				225,446,000	228,196,000	243,877,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									3,779,000	565,000	435,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets									5,037,000	4,907,000	4,866,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments										$ (376,000)