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Stock Ownership Plans - Weighted Average Prices of Stock Options (Details) Note 11 - Stock Ownership Plans - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding (Details) Note 11 - Stock Ownership Plans - Summary of Restricted Stock Activity (Details) Note 12 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) Note 12 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Continuing Operations (Details) Note 12 - Income Taxes - Deferred Income Tax Liabilities (Details) lee_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivablesAndContractAssets Decrease in receivables and contract sales The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the total amount due within one year (or one operating cycle) from all parties, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities and amount of increase (decrease) in right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time. Note 12 - Income Taxes - Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) Exercisable, end of year (in shares) Note 13 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Estimate Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest Total deficit Note 14 - Earnings Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) Note 15 - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Valuation and Qualifying Account Information (Details) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value Note 16 - Other Information - Compensation and Other Accrued Liabilities (Details) Note 16 - Other Information - Supplemental Cash Payment (Details) Note 18 - Leases - Lease Expense (Details) BHMG [Member] Represents information related to BH Media Group's. Note 18 - Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) Hedge Funds [Member] Note 19 - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Financial Statements (Details) Notes To Financial Statements Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] Financial Instruments [Domain] Under option, end of year (in dollars per share) Unearned revenue Contract with Customer, Liability, Current Cancelled (in dollars per share) Financial Instrument [Axis] Exercised (in dollars per share) Compensation and other accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total lee_OperatingLeaseAnnualRentPayable Operating Lease, Annual Rent Payable Represents amount of annual rent payable for operating lease. Accrued interest Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block] Accounts payable Credit Agreement [Member] Represents information related to credit agreement. Secured Term Loan [Member] Represents information related to secured term loan. us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber Under option, balance (in shares) Under option, balance (in shares) Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] lee_OperatingLeasePercentageOfNetSalesProceeds Operating Lease, Percentage of Net Sales Proceeds Represents percentage of net seals proceeds from operating lease. us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod Canceled (in shares) lee_BusinessCombinationTerminationOfContractExpectedCreditEstimatedProratedVariablePortion Business Combination, Termination of Contract, Expected Credit, Estimated Pro-rated Variable Portion Represents estimated pro-rated variable portion of expected credit for termination of contract of business combination. lee_BusinessCombinationTerminationOfContractExpectedCredits Business Combination, Termination of Contract, Expected Credits Represents expected credits of termination of contract. Retirement plans BH Finance [Member] Represents information related to BH finance. Other us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent Compensation us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract Accounting Policies us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year) Discount rate - interest cost lee_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRateInterestCost Weighted average rate for present value of future retirement benefits cash flows attributed to the cost recognized for passage of time, used to determine net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit plan. Product and Service, Other [Member] Discount rate - service cost lee_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRateServiceCost Weighted average rate for present value of future retirement benefits cash flows attributed to service rendered by employee, used to determine net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit plan. us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue Loss Contingency Accrual, Ending Balance Current liabilities: Total assets us-gaap_Assets Total assets us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1 Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year) lee_OwnershipPercentageOfTotalCommonStock Ownership Percentage of Total Common Stock The percentage ownership of total common stock. lee_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueOwnershipPercentageOfVotingCommonStock Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Ownership Percentage of Voting Common Stock The ownership percentage of voting common stock in equity security without readily determinable fair value. 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Uninsured Risk [Member] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] U.S. Small Cap Value Equity Common/Collective Fund [Member] Information pertaining to U.S. small cap value equity common/collective fund. Inventory [Axis] Inventory [Domain] Global Equity Long/Short Common/Collective Hedge Fund-of-funds 2 [Member] Information pertaining to global equity long/short common/collective hedge fund-of-funds. Loss Contingency Nature [Axis] Global Equity Long/Short Common/Collective Hedge Fund-of-funds [Member] Information pertaining to global equity long/short common/collective hedge fund-of-funds. Mastheads us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Less accumulated depreciation us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet Property and equipment, net Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill Goodwill us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance Equipment Construction in process Land and improvements Buildings and improvements Property and equipment: us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGross Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss Net (loss) income Net income (loss) us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Amount us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi Equity Securities, FV-NI Equity in earnings of associated companies Equity in earnings Associated companies Equity Method Investments Income tax expense (benefit) Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Multiemployer Plan [Table Text Block] Investments: us-gaap_OperatingExpenses Total operating expenses Operating expenses Shares issued Equity impact of the value of stock issued (redeemed) during the period. Debt financing and administrative costs Debt financing and administrative costs Amount of amortization expense attributable to debt issuance costs and administrative costs. Newsprint and ink Newsprint and ink expense: expenses related to the consumption of newsprint and ink (both inventoried items) Advertising and Marketing Services [Member] Represents the information pertaining to advertising and marketing services. Cash and cash equivalents us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense Compensation us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year: Fair value of plan assets, end of year Funded status Funded status us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance Benefit obligation, beginning of year Benefit obligation, end of year 2026-2030, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter 2026-2030 Employer contributions Employer contributions us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureEmployerContributionsNextFiscalYear Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year 2022, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo 2022 2023, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree 2023 2024, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour 2024 2025, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive 2025 Amendment Flag City Area Code 2021, gross payments us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths 2021 Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Effect on net periodic postretirement benefit, increase New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents1 Effect on net periodic postretirement benefit, decrease Effect on postretirement benefit obligation, increase us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation1 Effect on postretirement benefit obligation, decrease Health care cost trend rates Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the “Ultimate Trend Rate”) Year in which the rate reaches the Ultimate Trend Rate us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment Assets loss (gain) on sales, impairments and other Expected long-term return on plan assets us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Rate of Return on Plan Assets Current Fiscal Year End Date us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfGainLossNextFiscalYear Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Amortization of Gain (Loss), Next Fiscal Year Purchases of common stock transactions The net value of common stock transactions in the period. us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCreditNextFiscalYear Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit), Next Fiscal Year lee_DistributionsGreaterLessThanEarningsOfTNI Distributions greater (less) than earnings of TNI Distributions which are greater (less) than the earnings of TNI Partners ("TNI"). Discount rate Discount rate TNI Partners [Member] Information pertaining to TNI Partners ("TNI"). Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block] INN Partners, L.C. [Member] Information pertaining to INN Partners, L.C. ("TownNews.com"). Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] Other Revenues [Member] Revenues from sources classified as other. Digital Services Revenues [Member] Revenues which come from digital services. Document Period End Date MNI [Member] Information pertaining to Madison Newspapers, Inc. ("MNI"). Accumulated other comprehensive loss (before income taxes) us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax Accumulated other comprehensive income (before income tax benefit) Madison Newspapers, Inc. [Member] Information pertaining to Madison Newspapers, Inc. ("MNI"). Entity File Number Business combination us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBusinessCombinationsAndAcquisitionsPlanAssets Entity Emerging Growth Company Document Type us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt, Total Senior Secured Notes [Member] Information pertaining to senior secured notes. us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges Asset Impairment Charges, Total Entity Small Business Actual return on plan assets Actual return on plan assets Entity Shell Company us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsBenefitsPaid Benefits paid Benefits paid, net of premiums received Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] Second Lien Term Loan [Member] Information pertaining to the second lien term loan agreement (the "2nd Lien Term Loan"). Entity Public Float us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationBenefitsPaid Benefits paid Entity Filer Category Entity Current Reporting Status Restructuring costs and other Restructuring Charges, Total us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAdministrationExpenses Administrative expenses paid Entity Voluntary Filers One time asset transfer Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss Actuarial loss (gain) Actuarial loss (gain) Business combination Business combination us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties Number of Real Estate Properties Schedule of Intangible Assets [Table Text Block] The tabular disclosure of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with both finite and infinite lives by major class. Property, equipment and other assets Non-amortized intangible assets us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, (Increase) Decrease for Curtailment Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Central Index Key Depreciation and amortization Entity Registrant Name Entity [Domain] Legal Entity [Axis] us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearThree1 2023, subsidy us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFour1 2024, subsidy us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFive1 2025, subsidy Entity Address, Address Line One Subscription and Circulation [Member] us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsAfterYearFive 2026-2030, subsidy us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugBenefitEffectOfSubsidyOnNetPeriodicPostretirementBenefitCost1 Medicare Part D subsidies First Lien Credit Facility [Member] Represents information pertaining to the First Lien Credit Facility. us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets Less amortization of intangible assets Entity Address, City or Town us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsNextTwelveMonths 2021, subsidy us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearTwo1 2022, subsidy Entity Address, Postal Zip Code Entity Address, State or Province Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Warrants Issued in Connection with Second Lien Term Loan [Member] Represents the warrants issued in connection with the 2nd Lien Term Loan.. lee_WeightedAverageCostOfDebtExcludingAmortizationOfDebtFinancingCosts Weighted Average Cost of Debt, Excluding Amortization of Debt Financing Costs Represents weighted average cost of debt excluding amortization of debt financing costs. lee_WarrantsWhenFullyExercisedPercentageOfCommonStockOutstanding Warrants, When Fully Exercised, Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding Represents the percentage of common stock outstanding when warrants fully exercised. Plan Partially Withdrawn From in 2017 [Member] Represents the multi-employer pension plan which was partially withdrawn from in 2017. lee_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligationPeriod Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation, Period (Year) The period of time in which an obligation recognized by withdrawing from a pension or postretirement benefit plan will be paid. Trading Symbol us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Projected Benefit Obligation lee_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValuePercent Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Percent Percent of investment in equity security without readily determinable fair value. TCT [Member] Information pertaining to The Capital Times Company ("TCT"). lee_FutureLiquidityWarrantExerciseProceeds Future Liquidity Warrant Exercise Proceeds Warrant Exercise Proceeds- the proceeds received by the Company if and when warrants are exercised in the future. us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation Defined Benefit Plan, Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Accumulated Benefit Obligation lee_Liquidity Liquidity Amount of cash availble for immediate use of the company including: cash and cash equivalents, current borrowing capacity under a revolver, etc. us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets Defined Benefit Plan, Plan with Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Plan Assets Local Phone Number us-gaap_FairValueHedgeAssetsAtFairValue Hedge fund investments us-gaap_TableTextBlock Notes Tables lee_PrincipalPaymentsOnLongTermBorrowings Principal payments on long-term borrowings The cash outflow for principal payments on long-term borrowings. Asset Percentage, Policy Allocation Asset Percentage, Actual Allocation LIFO inventory Additions charged to expense Company's 50% share lee_OperatingIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments Amount of operating income (loss) for proportionate share of equity method investee's income (loss). FIFO inventory Specific identification The amount of specific identification inventory present at the reporting date when inventory is also valued using different valuation methods. us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTransfersBetweenMeasurementLevels Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Level 3 Reconciliation, Increase (Decrease) for Assets Transferred into (out of) Level 3 Interest deduction limitation Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to interest deduction limitation. us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsLevel3ReconciliationIncreaseForPurchase Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Level 3 Reconciliation, Increase for Purchase us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue Debt securities ASC 842 - Leases DTA Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible right of use lease liabilities. Buffalo Subsidiaries [Member] Represents information related to Buffalo subsidiaries. CWA / ITU Negotiated [Member] Represents information related to CWA/ITU negotiated. IAM National Pension [Member] Represents information related to IAM national Pension Fund. Other operating expenses Operating Engineers Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers [Member] Represents Operating Engineers Central Pension Found of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers. Long-term debt Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to long-term debt. Defined Benefit Plan, Debt Security [Member] us-gaap_InterestExpense Interest expense us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities [Member] us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract Notes to Financial Statements Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Axis] Retirement plan assets, net Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan Emerging Equity Securities [Member] Represents information related to emerging equity securities. Refinancing 2020 [Member] Represents information related to 2020 refinancing. Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Domain] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Defined Benefit Plan, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] lee_ProceedsFromPaymentForPensionBenefits Pension contributions Amount of cash inflow (outflow) for pension benefit. Includes, but is not limited to, employer contribution to fund plan asset and payment to retiree. Excludes other postretirement benefit Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block] us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsNet Other Intangible Assets, Net Retirement Benefits [Text Block] lee_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationAdministrativeExpensesPaid Administrative expenses paid Amount of administrative expense paid for benefit obligation of defined benefit plan. us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRollingYearTwo Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Two us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRollingYearThree Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Three us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRollingYearFour Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Four us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRollingYearFive Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Five TCT and Private Equity Investment [Member] Represents the information pertaining to TCT and Private Equity Investment. Investments and other assets us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets us-gaap_EmployeeBenefitsAndShareBasedCompensation Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextRollingTwelveMonths Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Rolling Twelve Months Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block] Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block] Total assets, adjustment Represents incomplete assets initial accounting for provisional information for business combination. lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentCurrentLiabilities Current liabilities assumed, adjustment Represents current liabilities of incomplete accounting for provisional information for business combination. Current assets, adjustment Represents current assets for initial accounting incomplete adjustment for provision information of business combination. Other assets, adjustment Represents adjustment other asset for initial accounting incomplete for provisional information of business combination. Other us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent Operating lease assets, adjustment Right of use asset for incomplete adjustment for initial accounting for provisional information of business combination. Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block] Intangible Assets, useful life (Year) lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentOperatingLeaseLiabilities Operating lease liabilities, adjustment Represents operating lease for incomplete adjustment of initial accounting for provisional information of business combination. lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentLiabilities Total liabilities, adjustment Represents incomplete adjustment liabilities for initial accounting for provisional information of business combination. lee_InterestExpenseNetOfTax Interest Expense, Net Of Tax Represents interest expense net of tax. Operating expenses: Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block] us-gaap_LongTermInvestments Total investments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetsExcludedFromPlanAssetsActualAllocationPercentage Defined Benefit Plan, Assets Excluded from Plan Assets, Actual Allocation, Percentage Percentage of actual investment allocation to total assets excluded from plan assets. Transition Costs Related to the Transactions [Member] Represents transition costs related to the Transactions. Impact of Withdrawal from Retirement Plans [Member] Represents the impact from withdrawal from retirement plans. Current assets us-gaap_AssetsCurrent Total current assets Master Trust Assets for the Retiree Medical Plan [Member] Represents information regarding the master trust assets associated with the retiree medical plan. Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block] lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentOtherCurrentAssets Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Other Current Assets This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to other current assets acquired in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete. 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Supplemental Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] Represents information related to supplemental employee stock purchase plan. 2022, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptYearTwo Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in second fiscal year following latest fiscal year. 2021, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptNextTwelveMonths Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in next fiscal year following latest fiscal year. lee_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationExpectedLongtermReturnOnAssets Expected long-term return on plan assets Weighted average rate of return on plan assets, reflecting average rate of earnings expected on existing plan assets and expected contributions, used to determine benefit obligation of defined benefit plan. Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] Represents information related to employee stock purchase plan. 2026-2030, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptFiveFiscalYearsThereafter Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in five fiscal years after fifth fiscal year following latest fiscal year. 2025, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptYearFive Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in fifth fiscal year following latest fiscal year. 2024, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptYearFour Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in fourth fiscal year following latest fiscal year. 2023, net payments lee_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentNetOfSubsidyReceiptYearThree Amount of benefits for defined benefit plan expected to be paid net of subsidy receipts in third fiscal year following latest fiscal year. Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Exercise Price Range 2 [Member] Represents exercise price range 2. Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] Exercise Price Range 1 [Member] Represents exercise price range 1. District No. 9 Pension Trust [Member] Represents the District No. 9 Pension Trust. GCIU- Employer Retirement Fund [Member] Represents the GCIU- Employer Retirement Fund. Other Retirement Plans [Text Block] The tabular disclosure for retirement plans other than those previously disclosed. lee_ClassOfWarrantOrRightPercentageOfCommonStockOutstanding Class of Warrant or Right, Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding Represents percentage of common stock outstanding for class of warrant or right. Warrant Agreement [Member] Represents information related to warrant agreement. lee_PercentageOfOutstandingSharesProFormaBasis Percentage of Outstanding Shares, Pro Forma Basis Represents percentage of outstanding shares on a pro forma basis. Retained Earnings Including Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Represents retained earnings including amount attributable to noncontrolling interest. Foreign Equity Securities [Member] Represents foreign equity securities. Domestic Equity Securities [Member] Represents domestic equity securities. lee_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsRelatedToNetOperatingLoss Unrecognized Tax Benefits Related to Net Operating Loss Amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to net operating loss. Net income Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated Restricted Stock [Member] Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] Goodwill, adjustment Goodwill acquired in business combinations Goodwill, Acquired During Period Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Percentage of share Other, net us-gaap_OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement Cash provided by (required for) investing activities: Change in income taxes payable Extinguishment of Debt, Type [Domain] us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount Extinguishment of Debt, Amount Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Other, including warrants Extinguishment of Debt [Axis] Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross Debt Issuance Costs, Gross (Decrease) increase in pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit obligations us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm Debt Instrument, Term (Year) Second Lien Credit Faclity [Member] Represents information related to second lien credit facility. Term Loan [Member] Represents information related to term loan. lee_ConstructionAndEquipmentPurchaseCommitments Construction and Equipment, Purchase Commitments Represents purchase commitments for construction and equipment. lee_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsBenefitsPaidNetOfPremiumAndMedicalPart Benefits paid, net of premiums and Medicare Part D subsidies received Amount of asset segregated and restricted to provide benefit under defined benefit plan net of premium and medical part. us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated us-gaap_SharesOutstanding Balance, beginning of year (in shares) Balance, end of year (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance (in shares) Interest rate us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated 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