Broadcaster screens current news free of padding (6)
I believe the answer is:
skinny
'free of padding' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'broadcaster screens current news' is the wordplay.
'broadcaster' becomes 'sky' (Sky is a broadcast TV channel).
'screens' is an insertion indicator (screen can mean to cover up).
'current' becomes 'I' (physics symbol).
'news' becomes 'nn' (an abbreviation for new written twice).
'i'+'nn'='inn'
'sky' enclosing 'inn' is 'SKINNY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for skinny that I've seen before include "stout? Certainly not!" , "Thin, bony" , "Lean" , "Low-calorie white coffee -- sent any kilt (anag)" , "'Scrawny, weedy (6)'" .)