Criticises a reporter’s demand (7)
I believe the answer is:
attacks
'criticises a reporter's demand' is the definition.
'attacks' can be an answer for 'criticises' (attacking is a kind of criticising). I'm unsure of the 'a reporter's demand' bit.
'criticises a reporter's demand' is the wordplay.
'criticises' becomes 'at' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a reporter's' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue (report can mean to speak something aloud).
'demand' becomes 'tax' (I've seen this before).
'tax' is a homophone of 'tacks'.
'at'+'tacks'='ATTACKS'
(Other definitions for attacks that I've seen before include "Charges" , "Assaults" , "Bouts of illness" , "Assails" , "Fiercely criticises" .)