Cover job for journalist under the influence? (9)
I believe the answer is:
plastered
'under the influence?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'cover job for journalist' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cover' could be 'plaster' (plastering is a kind of covering) and 'plaster' is found within the answer.
'journalist' could be 'ed' (short for editor) and 'ed' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for plastered that I've seen before include "incapable" , "Like member in cast" , "Drunk - applied coating to a wall" , "Smashed" , "Intoxicated" .)