Flagrant in pub, editor pinching mug (9)
I believe the answer is:
barefaced
'flagrant' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'pub editor pinching mug' is the wordplay.
'pub' becomes 'bar' (I've seen this before).
'editor' becomes 'ed'.
'pinching' is an insertion indicator (taking inside).
'mug' becomes 'face' (I've seen this before**).
'ed' going around 'face' is 'efaced'.
'bar'+'efaced'='BAREFACED'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for barefaced that I've seen before include "Bold" , "Audacious" , "Shameless or not bearded" , "Cheeky" , "Impudent" .)