This study is intended to identify challenges of journalists, working in government and privaternFM radios, in repoiting political related issues. The rationale behind it is that as long as thesernnewly coming FM radios are functioning in a country which needs more and more economic,rnpolitical and social improvements; and as long as they are reporting serious political issues suchrnas election and other; their performances and contributions to the political and social arena of therncountry; and the constraints faced by the journalists in reporting political issues should bernstudied. To this end, the study uses focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview to getrndata from the jomnalists in FM Addis 97.1 and Sheger FM 102.1 radios and Key Informants inrnEBA, NEBE, EJA and EFJA. The study focuses on the views and experiences of journalists.rnThematic analysis has been used to discuss and analyze the data. Verbatim transcription ofrnverbal data, production of initial codes, identification of theme, revision of theme, naming andrndefining theme and producing the final report are the important steps the study follows. Thernfindings of the study show some major constraints to the journalists in political reporting, threernof which have been summarized here. One is their poor relationship with government officialsrnand politicians. On the one hand, with some underestimation most government officials preferrn'the government journalists' than 'the private ones'. They give information to the governmentrnjournalists beforehand. However, many of the opposition political party leaders and members dornnot like the government journalists. On the other hand, the private radio journalists are in between;rnthat is to say, they have moderate relation with both the government and thernoppositions. Second, concerning access to government information, journalists in governmentrnmedia have more access than the private ones. But they themselves are facing problems of therndeliberate act of delaying information by the officials and they are not eligible to report foreignrnrelations issues directly by themselves. Whereas, the main problem for the journalists in ShegerrnFM 102.1 is that many of the goverrunent officials are reluctant to give them informationrnbecause they are 'private radio journalists'. Distorted and biased information is also a problemrnfor them. Third, lack of professional freedom is another constraint for the government mediarnjournalists than the private ones. The government officials intervene in the works of thernjournalists, especially whenever serious issues arise in the country. For which reason, they dornself-censorship. But they are free in their routine repoiting of issues which are not serious. rnContrary to this, the private journalists are enjoying their professional freedom. They have nornany proprietor or commercial influence in their works.