Drop journalist caught by dispute (9)
I believe the answer is:
reduction
'drop' is the definition.
(a reduction is a drop or decrease)
'journalist caught by dispute' is the wordplay.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'caught' indicates putting letters inside.
'by dispute' becomes 'ruction' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ed' going within 'ruction' is 'REDUCTION'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for reduction that I've seen before include "Introduce (anag) - decrease" , "Lessening" , "from nine to five, for example" , "Decrease, diminution" , "thickened sauce?" .)