Note 6 - Reportable Segments - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Advertising, net									$ 9,104,000	$ 9,854,000	$ 10,502,000
Circulation									5,654,000	5,912,000	5,915,000
Advertising service fees and other									2,812,000	2,651,000	2,703,000
Licensing and maintenance fees									16,037,000	14,758,000	13,984,000
Consulting fees									4,476,000	4,085,000	4,704,000
Other public service fees									3,301,000	4,352,000	6,170,000
Operating expenses									54,551,000	48,252,000	47,490,000
Income (loss) from operations									(13,167,000)	(6,640,000)	(3,512,000)
Dividends and interest income									4,844,000	4,085,000	3,829,000
Other income									34,000	61,000	65,000
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits									743,000	(112,000)	(96,000)
Pretax (loss) income	$ (2,210,000)	$ (2,816,000)	$ (1,261,000)	$ (1,781,000)	$ (2,372,000)	$ (623,000)	$ 152,000	$ (135,000)	(8,068,000)	(2,978,000)	(310,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1,135,000	1,465,000	4,240,000	310,000	1,410,000	285,000	55,000	185,000	7,150,000	1,935,000	1,120,000
Net (loss) income	(1,075,000)	$ (1,351,000)	$ 2,979,000	$ (1,471,000)	(962,000)	$ (338,000)	$ 207,000	$ 50,000	(918,000)	(1,043,000)	810,000
Total assets	280,200,000				225,446,000				280,200,000	225,446,000	228,196,000
Capital expenditures									253,000	3,779,000	565,000
Amortization of intangible assets									4,895,000	5,037,000	4,907,000
Income (loss) from operations									(13,167,000)	(6,640,000)	(3,512,000)
Other income and capital gains											69,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments											(376,000)
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt									(100,000)	(88,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt									(422,000)	(284,000)	(224,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member]
Advertising, net									9,104,000	9,854,000	10,502,000
Circulation									5,654,000	5,912,000	5,915,000
Advertising service fees and other									2,812,000	2,651,000	2,703,000
Licensing and maintenance fees
Consulting fees
Other public service fees
Operating expenses									17,852,000	17,240,000	18,038,000
Income (loss) from operations									(282,000)	1,177,000	1,082,000
Dividends and interest income
Other income									22,000	52,000
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Pretax (loss) income									(360,000)	1,141,000	1,082,000
Income tax benefit (expense)									(2,000)	(530,000)	(70,000)
Net (loss) income									(362,000)	611,000	1,012,000
Total assets	17,474,000				19,026,000				17,474,000	19,026,000	15,047,000
Capital expenditures									160,000	3,662,000	425,000
Amortization of intangible assets										142,000	12,000
Income (loss) from operations									(282,000)	1,177,000	1,082,000
Other income and capital gains
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt									(100,000)	(88,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member]
Advertising, net
Circulation
Advertising service fees and other
Licensing and maintenance fees									16,037,000	14,758,000	13,984,000
Consulting fees									4,476,000	4,085,000	4,704,000
Other public service fees									3,301,000	4,352,000	6,170,000
Operating expenses									36,699,000	31,012,000	29,452,000
Income (loss) from operations									(12,885,000)	(7,817,000)	(4,594,000)
Dividends and interest income
Other income
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits									743,000	(112,000)	(96,000)
Pretax (loss) income									(12,142,000)	(7,929,000)	(4,690,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)									7,910,000	3,140,000	1,580,000
Net (loss) income									(4,232,000)	(4,789,000)	(3,110,000)
Total assets	33,461,000				39,786,000				33,461,000	39,786,000	47,108,000
Capital expenditures									93,000	117,000	140,000
Amortization of intangible assets									4,895,000	4,895,000	4,895,000
Income (loss) from operations									(12,885,000)	(7,817,000)	(4,594,000)
Other income and capital gains
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 debt
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt
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									4,844,000	4,085,000	3,829,000
Other income									12,000	9,000
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits
Pretax (loss) income									4,434,000	3,810,000	3,298,000
Income tax benefit (expense)									(758,000)	(675,000)	(390,000)
Net (loss) income									3,676,000	3,135,000	2,908,000
Total assets	$ 229,265,000				$ 166,634,000				229,265,000	166,634,000	166,041,000
Capital expenditures
Amortization of intangible assets
Income (loss) from operations
Other income and capital gains											69,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments											(376,000)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt									$ (422,000)	$ (284,000)	$ (224,000)