Avoided new space next to journalist (7)
I believe the answer is:
escaped
'avoided' is the definition.
(escaping is a kind of avoiding)
'new space next to journalist' is the wordplay.
'new' is an anagram indicator.
'next to' says to put letters next to each other.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'space' anagrammed gives 'escap'.
'escap'+'ed'='ESCAPED'
(Other definitions for escaped that I've seen before include "Broke free, got away" , "Got away from captors" , "Got away, broke loose" , "Evaded" , "Fled from captivity" .)