Crossword Genius

Author and journalist backed enemy (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

defoe

'author' is the definition.
(Daniel Defoe)

'journalist backed enemy' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'backed' is a reversal indicator.
'enemy' becomes 'foe' (I've seen this before).
'ed' in reverse letter order is 'de'.
'de'+'foe'='DEFOE'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for defoe that I've seen before include "Daniel, writer, d. 1731" , "18th-century author" , "Daniel, author of Robinson Crusoe" , "See 14" , "Gulliver author" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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