Note 11 - Operating Segments - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			$ 10,717,000		$ 13,970,000		$ 22,245,000	$ 24,390,000
Salaries and employee benefits			8,847,000		8,896,000		17,324,000	17,038,000
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual			(1,920,000)		1,005,000		(2,050,000)	755,000
Others			3,417,000		2,764,000		6,542,000	5,607,000
Total operating expenses			10,344,000		12,665,000		21,816,000	23,400,000
Income (loss) from operations			373,000		1,305,000		429,000	990,000
Dividends and interest income			2,113,000		649,000		2,988,000	1,287,000
Realized (losses) gains on sales of marketable securities	$ 14,249,000	$ 14,249,000	(32,445,000)		18,478,000		14,249,000	18,478,000
Marketable Securities, Unrealized Gain (Loss)			(8,321,000)		(5,144,000)		(44,409,000)	76,068,000
Pretax income (loss)			(38,443,000)		15,211,000		(27,005,000)	96,661,000
Income tax benefits (provisions)			10,630,000		(2,735,000)		6,070,000	(24,915,000)
Net (loss) income			(27,813,000)	$ 6,878,000	12,476,000	$ 59,270,000	(20,935,000)	71,746,000
Total assets	390,090,000		390,090,000		330,645,000		390,090,000	330,645,000	$ 390,577,000
Capital expenditures			3,000		29,000		3,000	29,000
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities			(8,321,000)		(5,144,000)		(44,409,000)	76,068,000
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual			(1,920,000)		1,005,000
Interest expense on debt			(13,000)		(13,000)		(26,000)	(34,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt			(150,000)		(64,000)		(236,000)	(128,000)
Advertising [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,896,000		1,762,000		3,690,000	3,454,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,072,000		1,129,000		2,182,000	2,332,000
Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			743,000		568,000		1,413,000	1,202,000
License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			4,608,000		6,355,000		9,088,000	11,388,000
Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			669,000		2,305,000		2,430,000	2,549,000
Service, Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,729,000		1,851,000		3,442,000	3,465,000
Traditional Business [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			3,711,000		3,459,000		7,285,000	6,988,000
Journal Technologies [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			7,006,000		10,511,000		14,960,000	17,402,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			3,711,000		3,459,000		7,285,000	6,988,000
Salaries and employee benefits			2,415,000		2,436,000		4,730,000	4,606,000
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual							(2,010,000)	755,000
Others			1,130,000		914,000		1,973,000	1,975,000
Total operating expenses			1,625,000		4,355,000		4,693,000	7,336,000
Income (loss) from operations			2,086,000		(896,000)		2,592,000	(348,000)
Pretax income (loss)			2,086,000		(896,000)		2,592,000	(348,000)
Income tax benefits (provisions)			(355,000)		270,000		(560,000)	160,000
Net (loss) income			1,731,000		(626,000)		2,032,000	(188,000)
Total assets	19,924,000		19,924,000		14,586,000		19,924,000	14,586,000
Capital expenditures					22,000			22,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual			(1,920,000)
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Advertising [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,896,000		1,762,000		3,690,000	3,454,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,072,000		1,129,000		2,182,000	2,332,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			743,000		568,000		1,413,000	1,202,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			7,006,000		10,511,000		14,960,000	17,402,000
Salaries and employee benefits			6,432,000		6,460,000		12,594,000	12,432,000
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual							(40,000)
Others			2,287,000		1,850,000		4,569,000	3,632,000
Total operating expenses			8,719,000		8,310,000		17,123,000	16,064,000
Income (loss) from operations			(1,713,000)		2,201,000		(2,163,000)	1,338,000
Pretax income (loss)			(1,713,000)		2,201,000		(2,163,000)	1,338,000
Income tax benefits (provisions)			455,000		(730,000)		705,000	(325,000)
Net (loss) income			(1,258,000)		1,471,000		(1,458,000)	1,013,000
Total assets	15,830,000		15,830,000		21,639,000		15,830,000	21,639,000
Capital expenditures			3,000		7,000		3,000	7,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
(Decrease) increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual					1,005,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			4,608,000		6,355,000		9,088,000	11,388,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			669,000		2,305,000		2,430,000	2,549,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Service, Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			1,729,000		1,851,000		3,442,000	3,465,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Dividends and interest income			2,113,000		649,000		2,988,000	1,287,000
Realized (losses) gains on sales of marketable securities			(32,445,000)		18,478,000		14,249,000	18,478,000
Marketable Securities, Unrealized Gain (Loss)			(8,321,000)		(5,144,000)		(44,409,000)	76,068,000
Pretax income (loss)			(38,816,000)		13,906,000		(27,434,000)	95,671,000
Income tax benefits (provisions)			10,530,000		(2,275,000)		5,925,000	(24,750,000)
Net (loss) income			(28,286,000)		11,631,000		(21,509,000)	70,921,000
Total assets	$ 354,336,000		354,336,000		294,420,000		354,336,000	294,420,000
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities			(8,321,000)		(5,144,000)		(44,409,000)	76,068,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt			(13,000)		(13,000)		(26,000)	(34,000)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt			$ (150,000)		$ (64,000)		$ (236,000)	$ (128,000)