Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue
Revenues	$ 9,338,000	$ 10,279,000	$ 19,590,000	$ 20,269,000
Costs and expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	8,555,000	8,097,000	16,752,000	15,738,000
Outside services	1,044,000	1,087,000	2,083,000	2,067,000
Postage and delivery expenses	216,000	285,000	433,000	563,000
Newsprint and printing expenses	191,000	230,000	403,000	439,000
Depreciation and amortization	899,000	1,389,000	2,117,000	2,781,000
Other general and administrative expenses	2,806,000	2,457,000	5,620,000	4,800,000
	13,711,000	13,545,000	27,408,000	26,388,000
Loss from operations	(4,373,000)	(3,266,000)	(7,818,000)	(6,119,000)
Other income (expense)
Dividends and interest income	1,024,000	1,368,000	2,507,000	2,539,000
Gain on sale of bonds	3,180,000		3,182,000
Other income	10,000	6,000	19,000	21,000
Reversal of accrued interest and penalty expense for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		752,000		743,000
Loss before income taxes	(332,000)	(1,261,000)	(2,443,000)	(3,042,000)
Benefit from income taxes	100,000	4,240,000	16,950,000	4,550,000
Net (loss) income	$ (232,000)	$ 2,979,000	$ 14,507,000	$ 1,508,000
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.17)	$ 2.16	$ 10.51	$ 1.09
Comprehensive (loss) income
Net income	$ (232,000)	$ 2,979,000	$ 14,507,000	$ 1,508,000
Net (decrease) increase in unrealized appreciation of marketable securities (net of taxes)	(13,861,000)	4,638,000	(1,743,000)	19,657,000
	(14,093,000)	7,617,000	12,764,000	21,165,000
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Other income (expense)
Interest expense on debt	(24,000)	(25,000)	(48,000)	(51,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Other income (expense)
Interest expense on debt	(149,000)	(96,000)	(285,000)	(175,000)
Advertising [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	2,209,000	2,123,000	4,325,000	4,433,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	1,356,000	1,424,000	2,719,000	2,873,000
Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	659,000	695,000	1,261,000	1,333,000
License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	3,981,000	3,882,000	8,331,000	7,848,000
Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	212,000	1,310,000	1,207,000	2,158,000
Service, Other [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	$ 921,000	$ 845,000	$ 1,747,000	$ 1,624,000