Zerai, Abdissa (PhD)Aschalew, Mihret2018-07-022023-11-082018-07-022023-11-082015-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/5393This study was aimed at investigating whether external influence exists on news reporting. To this end, Reporter Amharic, Fortune and Capital newspapers were selected as a case from the Ethiopian print media. The most relevant theoretical framework to the topic, political economy of the mass media has been employed as theoretical framework. Qualitative data gathering techniques of focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview were employed to undertake the study. Using purposive and convenience sampling techniques, 18 journalists were selected for focus group discussion and in depth interview. In depth interview was employed mainly to get rich data that can enable the researcher to examine whether there are external influences on news reporting while focus group discussion was used to get preliminary information and diverse views regarding the issue. The study revealed that there is external influence on news reporting in Reporter Amharic and Capital while the influence is relatively minimal in Fortune. Heavy reliance on official sources, journalist-source friendship, news gathering habitual (routine) and news management of PRs, advertisers’ interest and self censorship resulted in the mediation of news of the newspapers. The study has revealed there is ownership interference and symbiosis between the newspapers and powerful political and economic actors that resulted in influence on news reporting from outside. ii The study has concluded that news reporting of the newspapers investigated was influenced by external political and economic actors’ interests though a relatively better professional standard enabled Fortune to minimize the influence.enInfluence on News ReportingThesis