Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ 1,486	$ (3,702)	$ 13,378	$ 9,822
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(2,293)	0	(1,247)
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated	$ 1,486	$ (5,995)	$ 13,378	$ 8,575
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic [Abstract]
Weighted Average Common Shares	53,519,000	52,296,000	53,199,000	52,295,000
Less non-vested restricted Common Stock	1,296,000	500,000	1,048,000	500,000
Basic average common shares	52,223,000	51,796,000	52,151,000	51,795,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	1,575,000	0	1,390,000	71,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	53,798,000	51,796,000	53,541,000	51,866,000
Continuing operations	$ 0.03	$ (0.07)	$ 0.26	$ 0.19
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.03	$ (0.12)	$ 0.26	$ 0.17
Continuing operations	$ 0.03	$ (0.07)	$ 0.25	$ 0.19
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Diluted	$ 0.03	$ (0.12)	$ 0.25	$ 0.17
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	98,000		100,000	2,985,000

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