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Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended
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Jun. 25, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract] |
Organization Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] | BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited, interim, Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 25, 2017 and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the 13 weeks and 39 weeks ended June 25, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. References to “we”, “our”, “us” and the like throughout the Consolidated Financial Statements refer to the Company. References to “2017”, “2016” and the like refer to the fiscal years ended the last Sunday in September. The Consolidated Financial Statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, except for our 50% interest in TNI Partners (“TNI”), 50% interest in Madison Newspapers, Inc. (“MNI”) and 82.5% interest in TownNews.com. Investments in TNI and MNI are accounted for using the equity method and are reported at cost, plus our share of undistributed earnings since acquisition less, for TNI, amortization of intangible assets. In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued a new going concern standard. The new standard provides guidance on how management evaluates and discloses the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a look-forward period of one year from the financial statement issuance date. We adopted the new standard in 2017, as required. The adoption of this standard did not impact our Consolidated Financial Statements, taken as a whole. On June 30, 2017, in the Company's fourth fiscal quarter of 2017, the Company purchased the assets of the Dispatch-Argus serving Moline and Rock Island, Illinois for $7,150,000 plus an adjustment for working capital. The purchase included one daily newspaper, a weekly publication, two niche publications as well as the related digital platforms. The purchase was funded with cash on the balance sheet and will be consolidated with the Company results in the 13 weeks ended September 24, 2017.

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