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Investments in Associated Companies | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] | INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES TNI Partners In Tucson, Arizona, TNI, acting as agent for our subsidiary, Star Publishing Company (“Star Publishing”), and Citizen Publishing Company (“Citizen”), a subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc., is responsible for printing, delivery, advertising and circulation of the Arizona Daily Star as well as the related digital platforms and specialty publications. TNI collects all receipts and income and pays substantially all operating expenses incident to the partnership's operations and publication of the newspaper and other media. Income or loss of TNI (before income taxes) is allocated equally to Star Publishing and Citizen. Summarized financial information of TNI is as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | September 30 2012 |  |  | September 25 2011 |
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets | 8,029 |  |  | 7,857 |
Investments and other assets | 13 |  |  | 32 |
Total assets | 8,042 |  |  | 7,889 |
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities | 5,601 |  |  | 6,136 |
Members' equity | 2,441 |  |  | 1,753 |
Total liabilities and members' equity | 8,042 |  |  | 7,889 |
Summarized results of TNI are as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Operating revenue | 59,043 |  |  | 62,452 |  |  | 64,379 |
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization | 49,568 |  |  | 52,882 |  |  | 52,923 |
Workforce adjustments | (31 | ) |  | 1,190 |  |  | 784 |
Operating income | 9,506 |  |  | 8,380 |  |  | 10,672 |
Company's 50% share | 4,753 |  |  | 4,190 |  |  | 5,336 |
Less amortization of intangible assets | 723 |  |  | 1,092 |  |  | 1,156 |
Equity in earnings of TNI | 4,030 |  |  | 3,098 |  |  | 4,180 |
Star Publishing's 50% share of TNI depreciation and certain general and administrative expenses associated with its share of the operation and administration of TNI are reported as operating expenses (benefit) in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). These amounts totaled $(522,000), $76,000, and $291,000, in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Fees for editorial services provided to TNI by Star Publishing totaled $5,994,000, $7,043,000, and $7,510,000 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our impairment analysis resulted in pretax reductions in the carrying value of TNI totaling $11,900,000 in 2011. See Note 4. At September 30, 2012, the carrying value of the Company's 50% investment in TNI is $19,450,000. The difference between our carrying value and our 50% share of the members' equity of TNI relates principally to goodwill of$12,366,000 and other identified intangible assets of $6,430,000, certain of which are being amortized over their estimated useful lives through 2020. See Note 4. Annual amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be $620,000 in 2013 and $418,000 in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Madison Newspapers, Inc. We have a 50% ownership interest in MNI, which publishes daily and Sunday newspapers, and other publications in Madison, Wisconsin, and other Wisconsin locations, and operates their related digital sites. Net income or loss of MNI (after income taxes) is allocated equally to us and The Capital Times Company (“TCT”). MNI conducts its business under the trade name Capital Newspapers. Summarized financial information of MNI is as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | September 30 2012 |  |  | September 25 2011 |
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets | 24,613 |  |  | 22,287 |
Investments and other assets | 29,986 |  |  | 30,484 |
Property and equipment, net | 7,707 |  |  | 8,519 |
Total assets | 62,306 |  |  | 61,290 |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities | 10,015 |  |  | 8,428 |
Other liabilities | 6,720 |  |  | 5,960 |
Stockholders' equity | 45,571 |  |  | 46,902 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 62,306 |  |  | 61,290 |
Summarized results of MNI are as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | 2012 |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Operating revenue | 70,158 |  |  | 73,011 |  |  | 75,137 |
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization | 57,981 |  |  | 60,982 |  |  | 61,467 |
Workforce adjustments | 546 |  |  | 530 |  |  | 296 |
Depreciation and amortization | 1,689 |  |  | 2,227 |  |  | 2,372 |
Operating income | 9,942 |  |  | 9,272 |  |  | 11,002 |
Net income | 6,469 |  |  | 6,106 |  |  | 7,132 |
Equity in earnings of MNI | 3,201 |  |  | 3,053 |  |  | 3,566 |
Fees for editorial services provided to MNI by us are included in other revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and totaled $8,098,000, $8,201,000 and $8,318,000, in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32787-111569 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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