Note 6 - Reportable Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Notes Tables

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

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate income and expenses			Total
Fiscal 2017
Revenues
Advertising, net	$	9,104,000		$	---		$	---		$	9,104,000
Circulation		5,654,000			---			---			5,654,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,812,000			---			---			2,812,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			16,037,000			---			16,037,000
Consulting fees		---			4,476,000			---			4,476,000
Other public service fees		---			3,301,000			---			3,301,000
Operating expenses		17,852,000			36,699,000			---			54,551,000
Loss from operations		(282,000	)		(12,885,000	)		---			(13,167,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			4,844,000			4,844,000
Other income		22,000			---			12,000			34,000
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate		(100,000	)		---			---			(100,000	)
Interest expense on margin loans		---			---			(422,000	)		(422,000	)
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		---			743,000			---			743,000
Pretax (loss) income		(360,000	)		(12,142,000	)		4,434,000			(8,068,000	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(2,000	)		7,910,000			(758,000	)		7,150,000
Net (loss) income		(362,000	)		(4,232,000	)		3,676,000			(918,000	)
Total assets		17,474,000			33,461,000			229,265,000			280,200,000
Capital expenditures		160,000			93,000			---			253,000
Amortization of intangible assets		---			4,895,000			---			4,895,000

	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