Note 6 - Reportable Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Notes Tables

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

	Reportable Segments
	Traditional Business			Journal Technologies		Corporate			Total
Fiscal 2020
Revenues
Advertising	$	7,104,000		$	—	$	—		$	7,104,000
Circulation		5,090,000			—		—			5,090,000
Advertising service fees and other		2,501,000			—		—			2,501,000
Licensing and maintenance fees		—			21,647,000		—			21,647,000
Consulting fees		—			7,718,000		—			7,718,000
Other public service fees		—			5,882,000		—			5,882,000
Operating expenses		16,425,000			34,800,000		—			51,225,000
Income (loss) from operations		(1,730,000	)		447,000		—			(1,283,000	)
Dividends and interest income		—			—		4,965,000			4,965,000
Other income		—			—		3,000			3,000
Net unrealized losses on investments		—			—		(3,099,000	)		(3,099,000	)
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate		(84,000	)		—		(35,000	)		(119,000	)
Interest expenses on margin loans		—			—		(434,000	)		(434,000	)
Gains on sales of marketable securities, net		—			—		4,193,000			4,193,000
Pretax income		(1,814,000	)		447,000		5,593,000			4,226,000
Income tax expense		685,000			100,000		(970,000	)		(185,000	)
Net loss		(1,129,000	)		547,000		4,623,000			4,041,000
Total assets		35,896,000			22,277,000		180,402,000			238,575,000
Capital expenditures		121,000			63,000		—			184,000

	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