-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EM5hYye2eA1u6MzvM+CUqdpv993yDOKMTQ9mKos64UAx2rGHCQKqFaaRBeEqSKm5
 7JeK3flmVliXWFY0lu3B/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226938-03-000001.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0001226938-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702153636
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226938-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

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:		4900 SEMINARY RD STE 800
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703-820-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4900 SEMINARY RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22311

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMTEX SCIENTIFIC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEAL ROBIN Y
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226938

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10541
		FILM NUMBER:		03771843

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4900 SEMINARY ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7038202000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4900 SEMINARY ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226938</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEAL ROBIN Y</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Finance &amp; Accounting</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-30</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>728</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.1785</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>14641</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Securities acquired pursuant to the provisions of the Comtex News Network, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ROBIN DEAL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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