Simon, Gebremedhin (PhD)Kebede, Yetenayet2018-07-042023-11-082018-07-042023-11-082008-10http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6247Ethiopian media industry is hampered by various factors, one of which is the influence coming from political authorities. The constitution of the country has clearly enshrined freedoms of speech and of the press. However, on the ground, these freedoms have not been translated the way they are provided for in the constitution. This study is aimed at evaluating the presence of this influence of political authorities that is seen as hampering the independent political news reporting of two national Amharic newspapers -‘Addis Zemen’ and ‘The Reporter’. To achieve this, the study has made a comparison on the variations, degree, particular nature and relative impact of the influences on the two papers. The study will show that the influence of political authorities, though unavoidable in any part of the world, is seriously damaging the political news reporting of Ethiopian media. This in particular is constraining the independent role of the state owned ‘Addis Zemen.’ The private owned ‘The Reporter’, on the other hand, though still impacted by the influence, is performing better and is trying to contribute to the national democratizations efforts. Generally speaking, the study has identified this influence of political officials as a hindrance on the constitutional Freedoms of Speech and of the Press, as well as on the public’s right to know.enInfluence of PoliticalThesis