[3] PNS was founded in 1969 by historian and sociologist Franz Schurmann and Orville Schell, author, journalist and former Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley.
[4] The original mission of PNS was to supply mainstream newspapers with an independent expert sources and reporting on the United States' role in Indochina during the Vietnam War.
[5] In 1974 after the Vietnam War ended, PNS changed its objective from covering the Far East to the United States, especially California, under the guidance of Executive Editor Sandy Close.
PNS operated a news-wire service, produced documentary films and television shows, and published Youth Outlook, a monthly news magazine by and about young people.
[8] New America Media executive director Sandy Close said that the reason for the closure was, "we grew too fast, and were reluctant to cut off programs after their funding expired.