-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WJa+nZMa4Ds86o+gqHNz+SDtQCkLSmC7hsYIRwR24MpeB2tTCssq4/5eOdGVKYsu
 SSEMhR6dmHELXkyQrzdcTg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001112451-04-000006.txt : 20040719
<SEC-HEADER>0001112451-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20040719
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040719195234
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001112451-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040719

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALLARD KATHY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001286449

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10541
		FILM NUMBER:		04920843

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		625 N WASHINGTON ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7038202000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMTEX NEWS NETWORK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000352988
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS SERVICES [7380]
		IRS NUMBER:				133055012
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		625 N. WASHINGTON ST.
		STREET 2:		STE 301
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703-820-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		625 N. WASHINGTON ST
		STREET 2:		STE 301
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22314

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMTEX SCIENTIFIC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000352988</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMTEX NEWS NETWORK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cmtx</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286449</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALLARD KATHY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President,Content</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7257</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.18</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-07-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>122800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy 75,000 shares of Common Stock under The Comtex News Network, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan.  Option becomes exercisable as follows:  25,000 will immediately vest, 25,000 will vest on 9/30/04 and 25,000 will vest on 12/31/04.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/ KATHY BALLARD</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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