Acquired Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	$ 9,005,787		$ 9,005,787		$ 9,005,787
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	4,448,680		4,448,680		4,227,735
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Goodwill	3,964,600		3,964,600		13,475,533
Trademark and masthead	3,648,972		3,648,972
Unamortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	7,613,572		7,613,572		17,124,505
Goodwill, accumulated amortization	507,278		507,278		507,278
Trademark and masthead, accumulated amortization	0		0		0
Unamortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	507,278		507,278		507,278
Total goodwill and other intangibles, gross carrying amount	16,619,359		16,619,359		26,130,292
Total goodwill and other intangibles, accumulated amortization	4,955,958		4,955,958		4,735,013
Amortization expense	71,817	110,279	220,945	330,836
Amortization period			17 years
Amortizing Intangible Assets (net of amortization expense) [Roll Forward]
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), beginning of period			13,829,536
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(9,051,484)
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), beginning of period			4,778,052
Amortizing intangible assets acquired			0
Impairment losses			0	0
Amortization expense	71,817	110,279	220,945	330,836
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), end of period	13,608,591		13,608,591
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(9,051,484)		(9,051,484)
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), end of period	4,557,107		4,557,107
Estimated amortization expense for future fiscal years [Abstract]
2012	71,814		71,814
2013	287,261		287,261
2014	275,970		275,970
2015	269,761		269,761
2016	269,761		269,761
Thereafter	3,382,540		3,382,540
Total	4,557,107		4,557,107
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period			38,894,778
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(25,926,523)
Goodwill, beginning of period			12,968,255
Goodwill acquired			0
Impairment losses			(9,510,933)	0
Goodwill, gross, end of period	38,894,778		38,894,778
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(35,437,456)		(35,437,456)
Goodwill, ending balance	3,457,322	15,332,283	3,457,322	15,332,283
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			18,515,316
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(14,866,344)
Trademark and masthead, beginning of period			3,648,972
Trademark and masthead acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, end of period	18,515,316		18,515,316
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(14,866,344)		(14,866,344)
Trademark and masthead, end of period	3,648,972		3,648,972
Impairment charges [Abstract]
Goodwill			9,510,933	0
Other intangibles			0	0
Trademark & masthead			0	0
Total impairment charges			9,510,933	0
Advertising and subscriber base [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	4,989,768		4,989,768		4,989,768
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	1,915,407		1,915,407		1,804,660
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	2,451,073		2,451,073		2,451,073
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	996,410		996,410		904,837
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable intangible assets, gross carrying amount	564,946		564,946		564,946
Amortizable intangible assets, accumulated amortization	536,863		536,863		518,238
Printing [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Trademark and masthead	0		0
Amortization expense			79,522
Amortizing Intangible Assets (net of amortization expense) [Roll Forward]
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), beginning of period			564,698
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), beginning of period			564,698
Amortizing intangible assets acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Amortization expense			79,522
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), end of period	485,176		485,176
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), end of period	485,176		485,176
Estimated amortization expense for future fiscal years [Abstract]
Total	485,176		485,176
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period			2,226,837
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Goodwill, beginning of period			2,226,837
Goodwill acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Goodwill, gross, end of period	2,226,837		2,226,837
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Goodwill, ending balance	2,226,837	2,226,837	2,226,837	2,226,837
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Trademark and masthead, beginning of period			0
Trademark and masthead acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Trademark and masthead, end of period	0		0
Impairment charges [Abstract]
Goodwill			0
Other intangibles			0
Office Products and Furniture [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Trademark and masthead	0		0
Amortization expense			30,676
Amortizing Intangible Assets (net of amortization expense) [Roll Forward]
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), beginning of period			1,028,246
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), beginning of period			1,028,246
Amortizing intangible assets acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Amortization expense			30,676
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), end of period	997,570		997,570
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), end of period	997,570		997,570
Estimated amortization expense for future fiscal years [Abstract]
Total	997,570		997,570
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period			1,230,485
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Goodwill, beginning of period			1,230,485
Goodwill acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Goodwill, gross, end of period	1,230,485		1,230,485
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Goodwill, ending balance	1,230,485	1,230,485	1,230,485	1,230,485
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			0
Trademark and masthead, beginning of period			0
Trademark and masthead acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	0		0
Trademark and masthead, end of period	0		0
Impairment charges [Abstract]
Goodwill			0
Other intangibles			0
Newspaper [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Trademark and masthead	3,648,972		3,648,972
Amortization expense			110,747
Amortizing Intangible Assets (net of amortization expense) [Roll Forward]
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), beginning of period			12,236,592
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(9,051,484)
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), beginning of period			3,185,108
Amortizing intangible assets acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Amortization expense			110,747
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense), end of period	12,125,845		12,125,845
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(9,051,484)		(9,051,484)
Amortizing intangible assets (net of amortization expense and impairment losses), end of period	3,074,361		3,074,361
Estimated amortization expense for future fiscal years [Abstract]
Total	3,074,361		3,074,361
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, beginning of period			35,437,456
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(25,926,523)
Goodwill, beginning of period			9,510,933
Goodwill acquired			0
Impairment losses			(9,510,933)
Goodwill, gross, end of period	35,437,456		35,437,456
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(35,437,456)		(35,437,456)
Goodwill, ending balance	0	11,874,961	0	11,874,961
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			18,515,316
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning of period			(14,866,344)
Trademark and masthead, beginning of period			3,648,972
Trademark and masthead acquired			0
Impairment losses			0
Trademark and masthead before accumulated impairment losses, end of period	18,515,316		18,515,316
Accumulated impairment losses, end of period	(14,866,344)		(14,866,344)
Trademark and masthead, end of period	3,648,972		3,648,972
Impairment charges [Abstract]
Goodwill			9,510,933
Other intangibles			$ 0
Syscan [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Amortization period			20 years
Syscan [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Amortization period			7 years
The Herald-Dispatch [Member] | Advertising and subscriber base [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Amortization period			20 years
The Herald-Dispatch [Member] | Advertising and subscriber base [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Unamortizable intangible assets: [Abstract]
Amortization period			25 years