Note 6 - Reportable Segments - Summarized Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	$ 54,009,000	$ 49,925,000
Salaries and employee benefits	36,935,000	34,230,000
Increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual	1,245,000	1,835,000
Increase to the long-term Supplemental compensation accrual	1,245,000	1,835,000
Others	13,840,000	11,708,000
Total operating expenses	52,020,000	47,773,000
Income from operations	1,989,000	2,152,000
Dividends and interest income	5,451,000	2,908,000
Gains on sale of land	272,000
Other income		69,000
Gains on sales of marketable securities, net	14,249,000	41,749,000
Net unrealized (losses) gains on marketable securities	(123,401,000)	106,499,000
Pretax income (loss)	(102,549,000)	153,050,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	26,925,000	(40,150,000)
Net (loss) income	(75,624,000)	112,900,000
Total assets	319,111,000	382,556,000
Capital expenditures	36,000	29,000
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt	(83,000)	(94,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt	(1,026,000)	(233,000)
Advertising [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	8,591,000	8,171,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	4,394,000	4,576,000
Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	2,937,000	2,684,000
License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	19,192,000	21,044,000
Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	11,865,000	6,319,000
Service, Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	7,030,000	7,131,000
Traditional Business [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	15,922,000	15,431,000
Journal Technologies [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	38,087,000	34,494,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	15,922,000	15,431,000
Salaries and employee benefits	9,618,000	8,226,000
Increase to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual	1,130,000
Increase to the long-term Supplemental compensation accrual		1,795,000
Others	4,472,000	4,967,000
Total operating expenses	15,220,000	14,988,000
Income from operations	702,000	443,000
Pretax income (loss)	702,000	443,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(185,000)	(115,000)
Net (loss) income	517,000	328,000
Total assets	22,743,000	22,412,000
Capital expenditures	3,000	22,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Advertising [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	8,591,000	8,171,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	4,394,000	4,576,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Traditional Business [Member] | Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	2,937,000	2,684,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	38,087,000	34,494,000
Salaries and employee benefits	27,317,000	26,004,000
Increase to the long-term Supplemental compensation accrual	115,000	40,000
Others	9,368,000	6,741,000
Total operating expenses	36,800,000	32,785,000
Income from operations	1,287,000	1,709,000
Pretax income (loss)	1,287,000	1,709,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(205,000)	(425,000)
Net (loss) income	1,082,000	1,284,000
Total assets	27,868,000	20,480,000
Capital expenditures	33,000	7,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	19,192,000	21,044,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	11,865,000	6,319,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Journal Technologies [Member] | Service, Other [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	7,030,000	7,131,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Dividends and interest income	5,451,000	2,908,000
Gains on sale of land	272,000
Other income		69,000
Gains on sales of marketable securities, net	14,249,000	41,749,000
Net unrealized (losses) gains on marketable securities	(123,401,000)	106,499,000
Pretax income (loss)	(104,538,000)	150,898,000
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	27,315,000	(39,610,000)
Net (loss) income	(77,223,000)	111,288,000
Total assets	268,500,000	339,664,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Interest expense on debt	(83,000)	(94,000)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Margin Account [Member]
Interest expense on debt	$ (1,026,000)	$ (233,000)