Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues
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
	41,384,000	41,612,000	43,978,000
Costs and expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	31,749,000	27,381,000	26,010,000
Outside services	4,552,000	3,729,000	3,524,000
Postage and delivery expenses	1,112,000	1,141,000	1,318,000
Newsprint and printing expenses	877,000	912,000	1,225,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,586,000	5,709,000	5,531,000
Other general and administrative expenses	10,675,000	9,380,000	9,882,000
	54,551,000	48,252,000	47,490,000
Loss from operations	(13,167,000)	(6,640,000)	(3,512,000)
Other income (expenses)
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 (accrual) for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits	743,000	(112,000)	(96,000)
Gains on sales of marketable securities/capital assets			4,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments			(376,000)
Loss before taxes	(8,068,000)	(2,978,000)	(310,000)
Benefit from income taxes	7,150,000	1,935,000	1,120,000
Net (loss) income	$ (918,000)	$ (1,043,000)	$ 810,000
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted (in shares)	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.76)	$ 0.59
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net (loss) income	$ (918,000)	$ (1,043,000)	$ 810,000
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (net of taxes of $22,300,000 for fiscal 2017; net of tax benefits of $1,028,000 and $5,764,000 for fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively)	35,316,000	(2,214,000)	(8,811,000)
Reclassification adjustment of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income (net of taxes of $0, $0 and $146,000 for fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively)			230,000
	34,398,000	(3,257,000)	(7,771,000)
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense on debt	(100,000)	(88,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense on debt	$ (422,000)	$ (284,000)	$ (224,000)