Downcast journalists probing exploit (9)
I believe the answer is:
depressed
'downcast' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'journalists probing exploit' is the wordplay.
'journalists' becomes 'press' (the press can mean the newspaper industry).
'probing' indicates putting letters inside (probe can mean to poke or prod into).
'exploit' becomes 'deed' (both can mean a feat or escapade).
'press' put into 'deed' is 'DEPRESSED'.
(Other definitions for depressed that I've seen before include "25 [BLUE]" , "Flattened downward" , "Having been pushed down" , "showing the blues" , "Downhearted" .)