Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenue
Revenues	$ 40,703,000	$ 41,384,000	$ 41,612,000
Costs and expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	33,832,000	31,749,000	27,381,000
Outside services	4,287,000	4,552,000	3,729,000
Postage and delivery expenses	857,000	1,112,000	1,141,000
Newsprint and printing expenses	780,000	877,000	912,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,678,000	5,586,000	5,709,000
Other general and administrative expenses	11,329,000	10,675,000	9,380,000
	54,763,000	54,551,000	48,252,000
Loss from operations	(14,060,000)	(13,167,000)	(6,640,000)
Other income (expenses)
Dividends and interest income	4,808,000	4,844,000	4,085,000
Other income	37,000	34,000	61,000
Interest and penalty expense reversal (accrual) for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits			(112,000)
Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits		743,000
Capital gains on sales of marketable securities and others	3,182,000
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments	(4,560,000)	0
Loss before taxes	(11,339,000)	(8,068,000)	(2,978,000)
Benefit from income taxes	19,540,000	7,150,000	1,935,000
Net income (loss)	$ 8,201,000	$ (918,000)	$ (1,043,000)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted (in shares)	1,380,746	1,380,746	1,380,746
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 5.94	$ (0.66)	$ (0.76)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$ 8,201,000	$ (918,000)	$ (1,043,000)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments (net of tax benefits of $1,258,000 for fiscal 2018; net of taxes of $22,300,000 for fiscal 2017, and net of tax benefits of $1,028,000 for fiscal 2016)	(5,823,000)	35,316,000	(2,214,000)
Reclassification adjustment of other-than-temporary impairment losses recognized in net income (net of taxes of $1,210,000, $0 and $0 for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	3,350,000
	5,728,000	34,398,000	(3,257,000)
Real Estate Bank Loan Secured by Logan Office [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense on debt	(95,000)	(100,000)	(88,000)
Margin Account [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense on debt	(651,000)	(422,000)	(284,000)
Advertising [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	9,112,000	9,104,000	9,854,000
Subscription and Circulation [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	5,401,000	5,654,000	5,912,000
Advertising Service Fees and Other [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	2,659,000	2,812,000	2,651,000
License and Maintenance [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	17,225,000	16,037,000	14,758,000
Consulting Fees [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	2,832,000	4,476,000	4,085,000
Service, Other [Member]
Revenue
Revenues	$ 3,474,000	$ 3,301,000	$ 4,352,000