Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Dec. 24, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Organization Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 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 December 24, 2017 and our 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 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the 13 weeks ended December 24, 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 “2018”, “2017” 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. 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. Operating results of the Dispatch-Argus were consolidated beginning in the 13 weeks ended September 24, 2017. Use of Estimates Our discussion of results of operations and financial condition are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. New accounting pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued a new standard with improvements to the accounting for employee share-based payments. The new standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. We adopted this new standard in 2018, as required and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued a new standard to improve the presentation of pension and postretirement benefit expense. The new standard requires that the service cost component of pension and postretirement benefits expense is recognized as compensation expense, while the remaining components of the expense (benefit) are presented outside of operating income. The current presentation includes all components of the expense (benefit) as Compensation in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The adoption of the new standard is required in fiscal 2019. If adopted in fiscal year 2017, compensation expense would increase $2,776,000 on an annual basis. In August 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to conform the presentation in the statement of cash flows for certain transactions, including cash distribution from equity method investments, among others. The adoption of the new standard is required in fiscal year 2020. The adoption of this standard will reclassify certain cash receipts within the Consolidation Statements of Cash Flows. In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard for the accounting treatment of leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases with terms greater than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. We currently anticipate adopting the new lease standard in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2020. To date we have made progress in our assessment of the new lease standard. We are currently evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue recognition standard which prescribes a single comprehensive model for entities to use to account for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance under U.S. GAAP and is effective for our fiscal year 2019. The core principle contemplated by this new standard is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. New disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are also required. In April and May 2016, the FASB also issued clarifying updates to the new standard specifically to address certain core principles including the identification of performance obligations, licensing guidance, the assessment of the collectability criterion, the presentation of taxes collected from customers, noncash considerations, contract modifications, and completed contracts at transition. We are currently evaluating the impact that the updated guidance will have on our financial statements and related disclosures. As part of the implementation process, we are holding regular meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the standard across our organization. We are in the process of reviewing our customer contracts, identifying contractual provisions that may result in a change in the timing or the amount of revenue recognized and assessing the enhanced disclosure requirements of the new guidance. We expect to be complete with our assessment in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018. We currently anticipate adopting the new revenue recognition standard using the modified retrospective approach in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018. This approach consists of recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. All other issued and not yet effective accounting standards are not relevant to the Company.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 December 24, 2017 and our 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 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Because of seasonal and other factors, the results of operations for the 13 weeks ended December 24, 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 “2018”, “2017” 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.

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. Operating results of the Dispatch-Argus were consolidated beginning in the 13 weeks ended September 24, 2017.

Use of Estimates

Our discussion of results of operations and financial condition are based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.

We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

New accounting pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued a new standard with improvements to the accounting for employee share-based payments. The new standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. We adopted this new standard in 2018, as required and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued a new standard to improve the presentation of pension and postretirement benefit expense. The new standard requires that the service cost component of pension and postretirement benefits expense is recognized as compensation expense, while the remaining components of the expense (benefit) are presented outside of operating income. The current presentation includes all components of the expense (benefit) as Compensation in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The adoption of the new standard is required in fiscal 2019. If adopted in fiscal year 2017, compensation expense would increase $2,776,000 on an annual basis.

In August 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to conform the presentation in the statement of cash flows for certain transactions, including cash distribution from equity method investments, among others. The adoption of the new standard is required in fiscal year 2020. The adoption of this standard will reclassify certain cash receipts within the Consolidation Statements of Cash Flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new standard for the accounting treatment of leases. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases with terms greater than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. We currently anticipate adopting the new lease standard in the first quarter of our fiscal year 2020. To date we have made progress in our assessment of the new lease standard. We are currently evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new revenue recognition standard which prescribes a single comprehensive model for entities to use to account for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The new guidance will supersede virtually all existing revenue guidance under U.S. GAAP and is effective for our fiscal year 2019. The core principle contemplated by this new standard is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount reflecting the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. New disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are also required. In April and May 2016, the FASB also issued clarifying updates to the new standard specifically to address certain core principles including the identification of performance obligations, licensing guidance, the assessment of the collectability criterion, the presentation of taxes collected from customers, noncash considerations, contract modifications, and completed contracts at transition.

We are currently evaluating the impact that the updated guidance will have on our financial statements and related disclosures. As part of the implementation process, we are holding regular meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the impact of the standard across our organization. We are in the process of reviewing our customer contracts, identifying contractual provisions that may result in a change in the timing or the amount of revenue recognized and assessing the enhanced disclosure requirements of the new guidance. We expect to be complete with our assessment in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018.

We currently anticipate adopting the new revenue recognition standard using the modified retrospective approach in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018. This approach consists of recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment to opening retained earnings.

All other issued and not yet effective accounting standards are not relevant to the Company.