POWER OF ATTORNEY


     I  hereby  appoint S. Amber Gordon, Caridad C. Miller  or
Marc  P.  Levy  to  act as my true and lawful attorney-in-fact
with  authority to execute on my behalf any Form 3, 4 or 5  or
any  amendment thereto required to be filed by the undersigned
in  his or her capacity as a "reporting person" (as defined in
Part  1(a)  of  the  instructions to Form 3)  of  Comtex  News
Network, Inc. under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange  Act
of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, with the appropriate regulatory authorities and to
do  all things incident and necessary to that end, until  such
time as I notify Ms. Gordon, Ms. Miller or Mr. Levy in writing
that  their  authority to act on my behalf in this manner  has
been withdrawn.

     I  have  signed this power of attorney on  February 10,
2004.


                         by     /S/ PIETER W. VANBENNEKOM


   STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

   COUNTY OF CHESTER
In PA, on the 10TH day of FEBRUARY, 2004, before me, a
Notary Public in and for the above state and county,
personally appeared PIETER W. VANBENNEKOM, known to me or
proved to be the person named in and who executed the
foregoing instrument, and being first duly sworn, such person
acknowledged that he or she executed said instrument for the
purposes therein contained as his or her free and voluntary
act and deed.
                           /S/ MARGARET H. ERNST
                           NOTARY PUBLIC
                           My Commission Expires: 11/15/04
                                   (SEAL)