WASHINGTON/WEST BANK, Feb. 20 (PINAOnline): A Palestinian news agency was launched Wednesday, February 20. The Palestine Independent News Agency (PINAOnline.com) is the first independent Palestinian news agency to be launched online. Its initiation comes at a very important time, as there is a growing interest in the Middle East's primary conflict, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and that interest has greatly drifted to the Internet.

"PINAOnline came to fill an important gap in terms of narrating the news from a Palestinian perspective," said Ramzy Baroud, the agency's president.

"It is true that the Palestinian presence on the internet is reflected in many forms and shapes, but a source of comprehensive and professional daily reporting is rare," he added.

Baroud stressed that the PINAOnline team consists of professional reporters who agreed to be part of this ambitious project, not seeking financial gain but desiring to bring "balance" to the unbalanced media coverage, and to shed light on the 'other side of the story' that was for too long ignored."

PINAOnline is a project involving an elaborate network of reporters, commentators, editors and photo journalists, coming from different backgrounds and some with long resumes in the field of writing and reporting.

Suzanne Russ, Managing Editor at PINAOnline said, "We are very pleased that our efforts have finally actualized and the project is off the ground."

She added, "PINAOnline offers a unique Palestinian perspective and our reporters will strive to present an even-handed narration of the news, yet without overlooking the human face of the struggle, an issue that is crucial, yet often dropped from mainstream media reporting."

PINAOnline is a project that will constantly be developed and improved to become the most comprehensive source of English daily news about Palestine online. One of the under-construction projects is an audio news broadcast in both Arabic and English.

The agency's news coverage, in addition to daily updated news regarding politics and breaking news, will report on important business, cultural and art events. Moreover, Palestinian and non-Palestinian commentators will share their comments and thought-provoking analysis with the hope that an "In-Depth" look will be provided to help readers understand the issues entailed in the headlines.

"We encourage Palestinian and non-Palestinian writers to participate in this project. Our aim is to provide a wide spectrum of views regarding the Middle East crisis and the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict," Russ added.

For More Information please contact us at: PINANews@aol.com, or by fax at: 425-778-9237 [PINA Online Inc. PO Box 196, Mountlake Terrace, WA, 98043, USA]