Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	May 01, 2012 Class A Common Stock	May 01, 2012 Class B Common Stock	May 01, 2012 Class C Common Stock
Entity Registrant Name	EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000783005
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Feb. 29, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-29
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float		$ 24,027,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			34,077,279	4,722,684	0