Note 6 - Reportable Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Notes Tables

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

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate			Total
Fiscal 2019
Revenues
Advertising	$	9,132,000		$	---		$	---		$	9,132,000
Circulation		5,249,000			---			---			5,249,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,712,000			---			---			2,712,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			20,179,000			---			20,179,000
Consulting fees		---			5,539,000			---			5,539,000
Other public service fees		---			5,844,000			---			5,844,000
Operating expenses		16,981,000			49,898,000*			---			66,879,000*
Income (loss) from operations		112,000			(18,336,000	)		---			(18,224,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			5,380,000			5,380,000
Other income		---			---			38,000			38,000
Net unrealized losses on investments		---			---			(17,715,000	)		(17,715,000	)
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate		(93,000	)		---			---			(93,000	)
Interest expenses on margin loans		---			---			(862,000	)		(862,000	)
Pretax income		19,000			(18,336,000	)		(13,159,000	)		(31,476,000	)
Income tax expense		(5,000	)		2,450,000			3,815,000			6,260,000
Net loss		14,000			(15,886,000	)		(9,344,000	)		(25,216,000	)
Total assets		17,176,000			22,741,000			197,459,000			237,376,000
Capital expenditures		132,000			33,000			---			165,000

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate			Total
Fiscal 2018
Revenues
Advertising, net	$	9,112,000		$	---		$	---		$	9,112,000
Circulation		5,401,000			---			---			5,401,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,659,000			---			---			2,659,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		---			17,225,000			---			17,225,000
Consulting fees		---			2,832,000			---			2,832,000
Other public service fees		---			3,474,000			---			3,474,000
Operating expenses		16,840,000			37,923,000			---			54,763,000
Income (loss) from operations		332,000			(14,392,000	)		---			(14,060,000	)
Dividends and interest income		---			---			4,808,000			4,808,000
Other income		---			---			37,000			37,000
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate		(95,000	)		---			---			(95,000	)
Interest expense on margin loans		---			---			(651,000	)		(651,000	)
Capital gains on sales of marketable Securities and others		---			---			3,182,000			3,182,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments		---			---			(4,560,000	)		(4,560,000	)
Pretax (loss) income		237,000			(14,392,000	)		2,816,000			(11,339,000	)
Income tax benefit		490,000			695,000			18,355,000			19,540,000
Net (loss) income		727,000			(13,697,000	)		21,171,000			8,201,000
Total assets		19,602,000			29,885,000			214,511,000			263,998,000
Capital expenditures		212,000			---			---			212,000
Amortization of intangible assets		---			3,058,000			---			3,058,000

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies			Corporate			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		16,606,000			33,461,000			230,641,000			280,708,000
Capital expenditures		160,000			93,000			---			253,000
Amortization of intangible assets		---			4,895,000			---			4,895,000