Document And Entity Information
Relationships
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles
Note To Financial Statement Details Textual
Significant Accounting Policies
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]
Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies
Note 2 - Acquisitions
Note 3 - Revenue
Note 4 - Investments in Associated Companies
Mastheads
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Note 7 - Leases
Note 8 - Pension Plans
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
Note 10 - Other Retirement Plans
Note 12 - Stock Ownership Plans
Note 13 - Income Taxes
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
Cash and cash equivalents
Note 14 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Note 15 - Earnings Per Common Share
Current liabilities
us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities
Note 16 - Allowance for Credit Losses
Note 17 - Other Information
Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Components of Inventory (Details)
Common Stock [Text Block]
The entire disclosure for terms, amounts, nature of changes, rights and privileges, dividends, and other matters related to common stock.
Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Lives of Property and Equipment (Details)
Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies - Intangible Assets Amortization Period (Details)
Note 2 - Acquisitions - Preliminary Determination of Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details)
Note 2 - Acquisitions - Pro Forma Information (Details)
Note 3 - Revenue - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)
Note 4 - Investments in Associated Companies - Summarized Financial Information (Details)
us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life (Year)
Note 4 - Investments in Associated Companies - Summarized Financial Information (Details) (Parentheticals)
us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetGainLossNetOfTax
Amortization of items to periodic pension and other post-employment benefit costs during the period, net of taxes $819, $542, and $162, respectively
Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Changes in the Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details)
Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Identified Intangible Assets (Details)
Note 5 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Pretax Impairment Charges (Details)
Change in unrecognized benefit plan gain (loss) arising during the period, net of taxes $19,148, $4,095, and $7,137, respectively
Note 7 - Leases - Lease Expense (Details)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block]
Note 7 - Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Net Periodic Cost (Benefit) (Details)
Acquisition-related Costs [Member]
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Benefit Obligations and Plan Assets (Details)
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details)
US Treasury Securities [Member]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Assumptions (Details)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
Forfeited, shares (in shares)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Allocation of Benefit Plan Assets (Details)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Fair Value Hierarchy of Benefit Plan Assets (Details)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - The Activity Within Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Outstanding, shares (in shares)
Outstanding, shares (in shares)
Note 8 - Pension Plans - Future Benefit Payments (Details)
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Net Period Postretirement Cost (Benefit) Components for Postretirement Plans (Details)
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Benefit Obligations and Plan Assets (Details)
Granted, shares (in shares)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
Vested, shares (in shares)
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details)
Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted
Nonrecurring Adjustment [Axis]
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Assumptions (Details)
Nonrecurring Adjustment [Domain]
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates (Details)
Current maturities of long-term debt
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Allocation of Benefit Plan Assets (Details)
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Fair Value Hierarchy of Benefit Plan Assets (Details)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Table Text Block]
Customer and Newspaper Subscriber Lists [Member]
Represents information related to customer and newspaper subscriber lists.
Note 9 - Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits - Future Benefit Payments (Details)
us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax
Deferred income taxes, net
Note 10 - Other Retirement Plans - Other Retirement Plans (Details)
Other comprehensive income (loss) recognized in operations, net of taxes
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
Note 12 - Stock Ownership Plans - Stock Option Activities (Details)
Note 12 - Stock Ownership Plans - Weighted Average Prices of Stock Options (Details)
Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Table Text Block]
Note 12 - Stock Ownership Plans - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding (Details)
Note 12 - Stock Ownership Plans - Summary of Restricted Stock Activity (Details)
Income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Note 13 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details)
Note 13 - Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Related to Continuing Operations (Details)
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]
Note 13 - Income Taxes - Deferred Income Tax Liabilities (Details)
Note 13 - Income Taxes - Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]
lee_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivablesAndContractAssets
(Increase) 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 14 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Estimate Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details)
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments [Table Text Block]
Exercisable, end of year (in shares)
Note 15 - Earnings Per Common Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details)
Total revenues
us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Total Equity (deficit)
Schedule of Changes in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]
Note 16 - Allowance for Credit Losses - Valuation and Qualifying Account Information (Details)
Note 17 - Other Information - Compensation and Other Accrued Liabilities (Details)
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value
Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Plan [Table Text Block]
Note 17 - Other Information - Supplemental Cash Payment (Details)
Notes To Financial Statements
Estimating Based on Long Term Growth Rates [Member]
Represents estimating based on long term growth rates.
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
BHMG [Member]
Represents information related to BH Media Group's.
Digital Advertising [Member]
Information related to digital advertising.
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions [Table Text Block]
Digital Subscription Revenue [Member]
Information related to digital subscription revenue.
Hedge Funds [Member]
lee_PercentageOfCbasExpiringInTheNextTwelveMonths
Percentage of CBA's Expiring in the Next Twelve Months
Represents the percentage of CBA's expiring in the next twelve months.
Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]
Preferred Share Purchase Rights [Member]
Information related to Preferred Share Purchase Rights.
lee_LongTermGrowthRatesDecreasePercentage
Long Term Growth Rates, Decrease Percentage
Represents decrease in long term growth rates as a percentage.
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]
Financial Instruments [Domain]
Goodwill, gross amount
Retirement Plan Name [Axis]
us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Accumulated impairment losses
Retirement Plan Name [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]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]
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.
Pension Plan [Member]
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.
Postemployment Retirement Benefits [Member]
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Under option, balance (in shares)
Under option, balance (in shares)
Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
lee_OperatingLeasePercentageOfNetSalesProceeds
Operating Lease, Percentage of Net Sales Proceeds
Represents percentage of net seals proceeds from operating lease.
Postretirement Health Coverage [Member]
Retirement Plan Type [Axis]
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.
Retirement Plan Type [Domain]
lee_BusinessCombinationTerminationOfContractExpectedCredits
Business Combination, Termination of Contract, Expected Credits
Represents expected credits of termination of contract.
Other Pension Plan [Member]
Proceeds from sales of assets
Retirement plans
BH Finance [Member]
Represents information related to BH finance.
Other
us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
lee_PensionAssetsDefinedBenefitPlan
Pension obligations
Represents amount of pension assets in defined benefit plan.
us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings
Proceeds from Sale of Buildings
Compensation
us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract
Accounting Policies
Uninsured Risks [Policy Text Block]
The accounting policy for uninsured risks.
Noncontrolling Interest [Policy Text Block]
The accounting policy for noncontrolling interest.
us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)
Printing Press and Insertion Equipment [Member]
Represents printing press and insertion equipment.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Axis]
Other Inventory [Member]
Represents other inventory.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain]
Newsprint [Member]
Represents newsprint.
lee_EditorialServiceFees
Editorial Service Fees
Amount of fees charged for providing the editorial content of the product.
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Purchases of property and equipment
Dilutive stock options and restricted Common Stock (in shares)
Newspaper Subscriber Lists [Member]
Represents newspaper subscriber lists.
Other Information [Text Block]
The entire disclosure for other information.
us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock
Less non-vested restricted Common Stock (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.
Debt financing and reorganization costs
Represents information related to debt financing and reorganization costs paid.
Income tax payments, net
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Product and Service, Other [Member]
Asset Impairment Charges [Table Text Block]
Tabular disclosre of impairment charges related to assets.
Weighted average Common Stock (in shares)
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.
Current liabilities:
Interest
Total assets
us-gaap_Assets
Total assets
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount
Allowance for credit losses
Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to allowance for doubtful accounts.
us-gaap_OperatingLeaseExpense
Operating Lease, Expense
us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)
Customer Lists [Member]
lee_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsBenefitsPaidForActiveEmployees
Benefits paid for active employees
Amount of payment to active employee under defined benefit plan which decreases plan assets. For pension plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, pension benefits and death benefits. For other postretirement plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services.
Supplemental Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Represents information related to supplemental employee stock purchase plan.
2023, 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.
2022, 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.
lee_OwnershipPercentageOfTotalCommonStock
Ownership Percentage of Total Common Stock
The percentage ownership of total common stock.
2027-2031, 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.
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.
2026, 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.
2025, 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.
2024, 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]
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain]
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.
Deferred
Represents the amount of deferred tax expense from continuing and discontinued operations.
Award Type [Domain]
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.
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Net income
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated:
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total
Income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated
Award Type [Axis]
Less accumulated amortization
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Ending Balance
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Other intangible assets, net
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total
Amortizable intangible assets, gross
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Restricted Stock [Member]
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
Restructuring Costs and Other, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Disclosure of accounting policy for restructuring costs and other.
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
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]
Goodwill, adjustment
Goodwill acquired in business combinations
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.
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
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
Less accumulated depreciation
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]
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
Long-term Debt, Type [Axis]
Land and improvements
Long-term Debt, Type [Domain]
Buildings and improvements
Property and equipment:
us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGross
Accounts Receivable, before Allowance for Credit Loss
Percentage of share
us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Net Income (loss)
Net income (loss)
us-gaap_MultiemployerPlansWithdrawalObligation
Multiemployer Plans, Withdrawal Obligation
Other, net
us-gaap_OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement
Cash required for investing activities:
Change in income taxes payable
us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestments
Other
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]
us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNi
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Current
Other, including warrants
Equity in earnings of associated companies
Equity in earnings
Increase (Decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsGross
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross
Associated companies
Equity Method Investments
Curtailment gain
Curtailment gain
Income tax expense
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total
(Decrease) increase in pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit obligations
Increase (Decrease) in Obligation, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits, 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.
us-gaap_Cash
Cash, Ending Balance
lee_ConstructionAndEquipmentPurchaseCommitments
Construction and Equipment, Purchase Commitments
Represents purchase commitments for construction and equipment.
Cash and cash equivalents
us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Compensation
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_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year:
Fair value of plan assets, end of year
us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense
Funded status
Funded status
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation, Ending Balance
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
Benefit obligation, end of year
2027-2031, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
2027-2031
Employer contributions
Employer contributions
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureEmployerContributionsNextFiscalYear
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Employer Contributions, Next Fiscal Year
2023, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
2023
2024, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
2024
2025, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
2025
2026, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
2026
Amendment Flag
us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated
City Area Code
2022, gross payments
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
2022
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
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
us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
Balance (in shares)
Balance (in shares)
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)
Current Fiscal Year End Date
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfGainLossNextFiscalYear
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Amortization of Gain (Loss), Next Fiscal Year
Variable lease costs
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCreditNextFiscalYear
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit), Next Fiscal Year
us-gaap_LeaseCost
Total Operating Lease Expense
Discount rate
Discount rate
TNI Partners [Member]
Information pertaining to TNI Partners ("TNI").
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation
Weighted Average discount rate
Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]
INN Partners, L.C. [Member]
Information pertaining to INN Partners, L.C. ("TownNews.com").
Document Fiscal Period Focus
Operating lease costs
Document Fiscal Year Focus
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Short-term lease costs
Lease, Cost [Table 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").
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities
Weighted average remaining lease term (years) (Year)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (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
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Debt Instrument, Face Amount
Document Type
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]
Entity Public Float
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationBenefitsPaid
Benefits paid
Entity Filer Category
Debt Instrument [Axis]
Entity Current Reporting Status
Debt Instrument, Name [Domain]
Restructuring costs and other
Restructuring costs
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAdministrationExpenses
Administrative expenses paid
Entity Voluntary Filers
One time asset transfer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived
Liability (gain) loss due to Curtailment
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
Stock compensation
Entity Tax Identification Number
Entity Central Index Key
Depreciation and amortization
Entity Registrant Name
Entity [Domain]
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearThree1
2024, subsidy
Legal Entity [Axis]
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFour1
2025, subsidy
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFive1
2026, subsidy
Entity Address, Address Line One
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsAfterYearFive
2027-2031, subsidy
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugBenefitEffectOfSubsidyOnNetPeriodicPostretirementBenefitCost1
Medicare Part D subsidies
us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Less amortization of intangible assets
Entity Address, City or Town
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsNextTwelveMonths
2022, subsidy
us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearTwo1
2023, 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_PulitzerExcessCashFlow
Pulitzer Excess Cash Flow
Amount of Pulitzer Excess Cash Flow available to be used to repay debt.
lee_WarrantsWhenFullyExercisedPercentageOfCommonStockOutstanding
Warrants, When Fully Exercised, Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding
Represents the percentage of common stock outstanding when warrants fully exercised.
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.
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlanWithProjectedBenefitObligationInExcessOfPlanAssetsPlanAssets
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Plan Assets
Amortization of prior service benefit
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLosses
Amortization of net loss
Trading Symbol
Net periodic postretirement benefit
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)
lee_EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValuePercent
Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Percent
Percent of investment in equity security without readily determinable fair value.
Service cost for benefits earned during the year
Service cost
Service cost
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlanWithProjectedBenefitObligationInExcessOfPlanAssetsProjectedBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Projected Benefit Obligation
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
Interest cost
Interest cost
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlanWithProjectedBenefitObligationInExcessOfPlanAssetsAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plan with Projected Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets, Accumulated Benefit Obligation
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
Expected return on plan assets
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.
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.
Local Phone Number
us-gaap_FairValueHedgeAssetsAtFairValue
Hedge fund investment
us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
Exercised (in shares)
us-gaap_TableTextBlock
Notes Tables
us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToCurtailments
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailment
Curtailment gains
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.
Warrant and rights, measurement input
us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventoriesAndOtherOperatingAssets
Decrease in inventories and other
Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain]
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.
Shares issued (in shares)
Lender Name [Axis]
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.
Total liabilities and members' equity
us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)
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.
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Defined Benefit Plan, Debt Security [Member]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Measurement Input, Discount Rate [Member]
Measurement Input, Share Price [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest expense
Measurement Input, Price Volatility [Member]
us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs
Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Equity Securities [Member]
us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract
Notes to Financial Statements
Subsequent Event [Member]
Operating lease liabilities
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent
Retirement plan assets, net
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan
Emerging Equity Securities [Member]
Represents information related to emerging equity securities.
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Axis]
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]
Measurement Input, Expected Term [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Category [Domain]
Defined Benefit Plan, Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
lee_ProceedsFromPaymentForPensionBenefits
Proceeds from (Payment for) Pension Benefits
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
Present value of lease liabilities
Operating Lease, Liability, Total
Subsequent Event Type [Axis]
Current portion of lease liabilities
Operating Lease, Liability, Current
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]
Subsequent Event Type [Domain]
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.
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset
us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Distribution
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_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue
Total lease payments
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseRollingYearFour
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Rolling Year Four
us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount
Less: interest
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.
us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred income taxes
Investments and other assets
us-gaap_InvestmentsAndOtherNoncurrentAssets
Measurement Input Type [Axis]
2024
Measurement Input Type [Domain]
us-gaap_EmployeeBenefitsAndShareBasedCompensation
Employee Benefits and Share-based Compensation
2025
2026
us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextRollingTwelveMonths
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Rolling Twelve Months
Thereafter
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
2022
2023
Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Total assets, adjustment
Represents incomplete assets initial accounting for provisional information for business combination.
us-gaap_FairValueAdjustmentOfWarrants
Fair Value Adjustment of Warrants
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.
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]
Stock compensation expense
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.
Operating expenses:
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_LongTermInvestments
Total investments
us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio
us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Depreciation and amortization
Current assets
us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Total current assets
us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Cash and cash equivalents
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.
us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure, Total
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value Measurement Inputs and Valuation Techniques [Table Text Block]
Common Stock, authorized 12,000 shares; issued and outstanding:
Adjustments to reconcile income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)
Revision of Prior Period [Axis]
Revision of Prior Period [Domain]
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member]
us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance (in shares)
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Valuation allowance
Statistical Measurement [Domain]
Operating cash outflow from operating leases
Maximum [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Ownership [Domain]
Product and Service [Axis]
us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Prepaids and other
Product and Service [Domain]
Statistical Measurement [Axis]
Investment, Name [Domain]
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]
Ownership [Axis]
us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetCurrent
Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current, Total
Serial convertible preferred stock, no par value; authorized 500 shares; none issued
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)
Investment, Name [Axis]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)
Other
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross, Total
Preferred stock, shares authoritzed (in shares)
us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross, Total
us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve
Inventory, LIFO Reserve
Inventories
Inventories
Total operating revenue
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member]
Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis]
Accrued expenses
Property and equipment, useful life (Year)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (Year)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Non-controlling interests
Cash provided by operating activities:
Revenue [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding
Warrants and Rights Outstanding
Statement [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses: 2021 $6,574; 2020 $13,431
Additional paid-in capital
Accrued compensation
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member]
Operating revenue:
Building Improvements [Member]
Pension and postretirement benefits
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Other, net
Long-Lived Tangible Asset [Axis]
us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Total non-operating expense, net
Long-Lived Tangible Asset [Domain]
Operating loss carryforwards
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total
Current assets:
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]
us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations
Beginning of year
End of year
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetIncreaseDecreaseForContractAcquiredInBusinessCombination
Contract with Customer, Asset, Increase (Decrease) for Contract Acquired in Business Combination
us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Net cash provided by (required) for financing activities
us-gaap_Liabilities
Total liabilities
Operating income
Operating income
us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized
Non-operating income (expense):
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Net cash provided by operating activities
us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Net cash required for investing activities
Other liabilities
us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Net deferred income tax liabilities
Pension obligations
us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Liability, Defined Benefit Plan, Noncurrent, Total
Postretirement benefit obligations
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets
Identified intangible assets
Deferred income taxes
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeasingArrangements
ASC 842 - Leases DTL
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments
Investments
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Consolidated Entities [Axis]
Consolidated Entities [Domain]
Accounting Standards Update [Domain]
us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Property and equipment
Accounting Standards Update [Axis]
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]
Sale (purchases) of common stock transactions
Scenario [Domain]
Forecast [Member]
Retained Earnings [Member]
State
Scenario [Axis]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Federal
Equity Components [Axis]
Equity Component [Domain]
us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share)
Class of Warrant or Right [Axis]
Class of Warrant or Right [Domain]
us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding (in shares)
us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Income before income taxes
us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares)
us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Debt financing and administrative costs paid
Reclassified Other Revenue to Subscription Revenue [Member]
Represents the reclassification of home delivery print revenue and certain other subscription revenue from Other revenue to subscription revenue.
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Authority [Axis]
Income Tax Authority [Domain]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]
Payments on long-term debt
us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]
Document Annual Report
Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]
Reverse Stock Split [Member]
The conversion of a reverse stock split where there is a reduction in the shares outstanding.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Balance Sheet Location [Axis]
Balance Sheet Location [Domain]
Return of collateral on (Payments to collateralize) letters of credit
The amount of proceeds from (payments to) collateralize letters of credit.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code
us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Long-term Debt, Gross
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Document Transition Report
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Lapse in statute of limitations
Entity Interactive Data Current
Changes in tax positions for prior years
Security Exchange Name
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Changes in tax positions for prior years
Increases (decrease) in tax positions for the current year
Title of 12(b) Security
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Increases (decrease) in tax positions for the current year
us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs
Deductions from reserves
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee [Axis]
us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued
Proceeds from long-term debt
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee [Domain]
Nonmonetary Transaction Type [Domain]
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]
Nonmonetary Transaction Type [Axis]
us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners
us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in shares)
Diluted average Common Stock (in shares)
us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total
Statement [Table]
us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Diluted: (in dollars per share)
Basic average Common Stock (in shares)
Other
us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total
Business Acquisition [Axis]
Basic: (in dollars per share)
Remeasurement due to rate changes
Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain]
Valuation allowance
Earnings per common share:
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Warrant valuation
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Net income of associated companies
Income Statement [Abstract]
Contribution to multiemployer plan
us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanEmployerContributionCost
us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseRemainingLeaseTerm
Lessee, Operating Lease, Remaining Lease Term (Year)
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Resolution of tax matters
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]
Pension withdrawal cost
Pension withdrawal cost
Amount of the obligation withdrawal cost recognized by withdrawing from a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Property and equipment, adjustment
Non-deductible expenses
Relationship, adjustment
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Intangibles
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]
lee_BusinessCombinationTerminationOfContractExpectedCreditEstimatedProratedFixedPortion
Business Combination, Termination of Contract, Expected Credit, Estimated Pro-rated Fixed Portion
Amount of estimated pro-rated fixed portion of expected credit for termination of contract of business combination.
lee_DebtInstrumentCovenantChangeOfControlRepaymentPercentage
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Change of Control, Repayment Percentage
The percentage of the debt instrument that is to be repaid in the event of change of control under the covenant.
lee_DebtInstrumentCovenantPercentOfNetCashProceedsOfPropertyInExcessOf500000In90Days
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Percent of Net Cash Proceeds of Property in Excess of $500,000 in 90 Days
The percentage of net cash proceeds from sale, transfer, license, or other disposition of property in excess of $500,000 in any 90 day period under covenant of the debt instrument.
lee_DebtInstrumentCovenantExcessCashFlowPeriodAfterQuarterEnd
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Excess Cash Flow, Period After Quarter End (Day)
The period after the end of the quarter that excess cash flow is to be paid under the covenant of the debt instrument.
State income tax benefit, net of federal tax benefit
Current assets
Amount of current assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.
Other assets
Amount of other assets acquired at the acquisition date.
Operating lease assets
Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease acquired at the acquisition date.
us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
Other, net
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, before Tax, Total
Change in pension and postretirement benefits
Cash provided by (required for) financing activities:
Computed “expected” income tax expense
Warrants and other
lee_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetAcquiredAndLiabilityAssumedOperatingLeaseLiability
Operating lease liabilities
Amount of operating lease liability assumed in business combination.
lee_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPensionObligations
Pension obligations
The amount of pension obligations assumed (as defined) which have been recognized as of the acquisition date.
lee_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPostEmploymentBenefitObligations
Postemployment benefit obligations
The amount of post-employment benefit obligations assumed (as defined) which have been recognized as of the acquisition date.
lee_DistributionsGreaterLessThanEarningsOfTNIAndMNI
Distributions greater (less) than earnings of TNI and MNI
Distributions which are greater (less) than the earnings of TNI Partners ("TNI")and Madison Newspapers, Inc.("MNI").
Advertiser Relationships [Member]
Advertiser relationship that exists between an entity and its advertiser.
Subscriber Relationships [Member]
Subscriber relationship that exists between an entity and its subscriber.
Commercial Print Relationships [Member]
Commercial print relationship that exists between an entity and its commercial printer.
us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPSharesInESOP
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Shares in ESOP, Total (in shares)
Unrecognized prior service benefit
Unrecognized prior service benefit
Rights Agreement [Member]
Represents Rights Agreement.
Warrants and Other Liabilities [Member]
Represents warrants and other liabilities.
Postretirement and postemployment benefit obligations
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss)
Unrecognized net actuarial gain
Pension Plans and Postretirement Plans [Member]
Represents pension plans and post retirement plans.
Estimating Using Royalty Rate [Member]
Represents estimating using royalty rate.
Estimating Using Discount Rate [Member]
Represents estimating using discount rate.
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Net assets
lee_IntangibleAssetsMeasurementInput
Intangible Assets, Measurement Input
Represents royalty rate used to determine value of intangible assets
Pension obligations
lee_DecreaseInRoyaltyRates
Decrease in Royalty Rates
The percentage points between royalty rates
lee_OperatingLeaseRentCreditEarned
Operating Lease, Rent Credit Earned
Represents amount of rent credit earned for operating lease.
Members' equity
us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
Balance
Balance
lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentUncertainTaxPositionAllowance
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Uncertain Tax Position Allowance
This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to uncertain tax position allowance assumed in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete.
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
Total liabilities
Income taxes payable
lee_CashCollateralForInsurance
Cash Collateral for Insurance
Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of cash collateral held for insurance program, for which the cash is restricted as to withdrawal or usage.
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther
Other liabilities assumed
Total consideration less acquired cash
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Common Class A [Member]
Common Class B [Member]
us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
Current liabilities assumed
Class of Stock [Axis]
lee_IncreaseInDiscountRate
Increase in Discount Rate
Represents increase in discount rate.
Class of Stock [Domain]
lee_ForecastedRevenueDecreasePercentage
Forecasted Revenue, Decrease Percentage
Represents decrease in forecasted revenue as a percentage amount.
Estimating Based on Revenue Forecast [Member]
Represents estimating based on revenue forecast.
us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
Less: acquired cash
Long-term debt, net of current maturities
Mastheads [Member]
Represents information related to Mastheads.
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]
Measurement Input, Royalty Rate [Member]
Represents royalty rate.
us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross
lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentAccruedLiabilities
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Accrued Liabilities
This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to accrued liabilities allowance assumed in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete.
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding (in dollars per share)
Total assets
Interest crediting rate
us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetInterestCarryforward
Deferred Tax Asset, Interest Carryforward
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Year)
lee_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentOtherNoncurrentLiabilities
Other liabilities assumed
This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to other noncurrent liabilities assumed in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete.
Reclassification, Type [Domain]
Number Exercisable (in shares)
Buffalo News [Member]
Represents Buffalo News.
Reclassification, Type [Axis]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable (in dollars per share)
lee_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPensionAndPostretirementBenefits
Pension and postretirement benefits
Amount of deferred tax consequences attributable to taxable temporary differences derived from pension and postretirement benefits. e
Range of exercise prices, upper limit (in dollars per share)
Number outstanding (in shares)
Property and equipment
Range of exercise prices, lower limit (in dollars per share)