Agents journalist backed bother reckless criminal (9)
I believe the answer is:
desperado
'reckless criminal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'agents journalist backed bother' is the wordplay.
'agents' becomes 'reps' (representatives).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'backed' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'bother' becomes 'ado' (I've seen this before).
'reps'+'ed'='repsed'
'repsed' written backwards gives 'desper'.
'desper'+'ado'='DESPERADO'
(Other definitions for desperado that I've seen before include "Gangster" , "Reckless criminal" , "Bandit, outlaw" , "reckless type" , "Wild ruffian" .)